I have seen a few posts recently on social media about people setting up their standing workstations. Firstly I want to commend people for their efforts in attempting to take steps to address the sitting epidemic. Unfortunately I think there is a common misconception that a standing workstation is the solution. When I see these pictures they make me want to cringe. There appears to be a lot of misinformation out there about how to address sitting disease and as an Occupational Therapist I am very concerned when I see people changing from a sitting workstation to full time standing.
Although the health implications of prolonged sitting have been well documented, prolonged standing has significant health implications also. A recent study by Garcia, Laubli and Martin (2015) [1] published in Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society detailed the negative effects of prolonged standing while working which included fatigue, back ache and leg cramps. In the long term, this long lasting fatigue can be also a contributing factor to the development of musculoskeletal disorders and back pain.
The study conducted involved 26 participants, split into two age groups simulating standing work for periods lasting five hours at a time. These periods included seated breaks lasting no more than five minutes (after 55 minutes of standing) and a 30-minute lunch break. Muscle fatigue was measured, as was postural stability and subjective reports from study participants to assess their perceived level of discomfort.
Despite regular rest breaks, the results showed that participants experienced significant long-term fatigue following their 5 hour simulated working day. Age was no barrier either. Younger participants (aged 18-30) were just as likely to show signs of muscle fatigue as older participants. As well as the physical problems which cause discomfort to the participants, there was also an effect on work performance and productivity levels.
There are other documented health problems associated with working in a standing position for prolonged periods, including swelling in the legs, sore feet, varicose veins and stiffness in the neck and shoulders.
The problem I see with the make-shift standing workstations is there is no accommodation for postural variety, just standing! In addition, these standing workstations merely place the computer on a raised working surface, making no accommodation for appropriate positioning of the monitor or correct height of the working surface. This has implications for your neck, shoulders and upper back. Then there is the impact of postural alignment. The standing surface is often neglected or forgotten, and this is a simple fix. Rarely is there any consideration for lower limb care when standing either. Then there is the zero to hero issue whereby you go from being a full time sitter to a full time stander.
Do not get me wrong, I am a massive advocate for increasing time spent standing at work. But you need to do this in a healthy way. That is why a sit-stand workstation is my preferred option, along with employment of other working smart for health strategies. A sit-stand workstation provides opportunity for one to choose from a variety of working positions and enables frequent change of position. Movement is comfort and regular postural change is essential to working healthy. You will actually see a boost in productivity by employing these strategies and be combatting the sitting epidemic in a way that you is good for you.
Here’s to your work health wellness.
Cheers, Cath
P.S. Have you got your copy of the Change Your Pain Report yet? No? Take the first step to changing your experience of pain at work and get FREE INSTANT ACCESS by clicking here.
P.P.S. If you are ready to change the way you are working, you know that you need to talk to me. Click here to arrange your FREE consult!
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[1] M.-G. Garcia, T. Laubli, B. J. Martin. Long-Term Muscle Fatigue After Standing Work. Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 2015; DOI: 10.1177/0018720815590293
Thanks Cath – definitely an informative blog. I’ll be looking up that HFE Society article.
I appreciate your comment Shane. Here is the link to the article: http://workplaceinsight.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/StandingatWork_Garcia.pdf
A great article thanks Cath. I have been trying to educate people on the ramifications of standing (and of course prolonged sitting) for a while, more so of late. I still believe dynamic postural variation and incidental activity should be the first priority. Thanks again!
Thanks for your comments Kathleen. It is so important to provide this education to our clients with all of this misinformation that is around.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS IT IS JUST WHAT I NEEDED TO HEAR I HAVE HAD L4\L5 L5/S1 SPINAL FUSION 10 WEEKS AGO. HAVE BEEN ON MY FEET FOR TOO LONGER PERIODS AT A TIME. I CAN NOW RELATE TO WHAT YOU SAY IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE
Hi Susan, I wish you a speedy recovery from your surgery. Thank-you for taking the time to comment. I am so pleased my article resonated with you and you were able to get some value from it. If you haven’t already visited my Cath from Occupational Focus FB page, please come along, give it a like and join in the conversation. You may also get some benefit from the Change Your Pain report, as you recover from your injury. You can access it here.
There are work stations that are adjustable on the market. They are similar to the ergonomic adjustable chairs i.e. Desk has a pedal that allows it to adjust up or down for standing then sitting – bit the five hour sessions as indicated here.
When I worked with 25 staff they complained about the filing cabinets at fartherest corner of the building. I explained they would never be closer as healthier to get up & walk when they needed a file. We had no issues with RSI.