How Long Should You Stand Rather Than Sit at Your Workstation?

As you may know, sedentary living is dangerous to your well-being. According to health experts, sitting for long periods increases your chances of getting diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. Along with that, studies have found that sitting too long puts you at a greater risk of experiencing anxiety and depression.

 

In the past, experts directed people to stand for roughly 15 minutes per hour to promote wellness. However, research from the University of Waterloo suggests that standing for no less than 30 minutes an hour can improve your health. This practice allows you to stand for a few hours each day, and that lowers your risk of health complications. Bear in mind that standing for too long is not beneficial because doing so may result in lasting back pains later.

 

Find the Right Balance

Like many things in life, balance is important. Alternating standing and sitting every 30 minutes will keep your muscles working and blood moving. It takes about 30 minutes for your body to adjust to a sitting position and for the muscles in your lower body to become inactive. Ideally, you need to help your metabolism function.

 

Do not wait until you experience discomfort before changing positions.  At that point, it may be too late, and you may have hurt your body in the process. Likewise, if you are not in the habit of standing for any length of time, do not force your body into an uncomfortable practice. Instead, get yourself used to the practice of standing and find your ideal comfort level.

 

Exercise Away the Discomfort

As mentioned earlier, standing for too long, or for any length of time, can trigger back pain if you are not used to it. Such pain is hard to cure once induced, but certain essential exercises can help soothe the back pain caused by standing.

 

These exercises include:

 

• Doing side planks while supporting your body with your forearm and feet.
   

• Stretching your arms and legs in a quadruped exercise. This involves kneeling on the floor and positioning yourself on your hands and knees. The exercise strengthens your lower back muscles while stabilizing your spine.
   

• Practicing the prone and supine positions. In the prone position, your back faces up, and your belly faces toward the floor. The supine position has your belly facing up and your back lying flat on the floor.
  
   

Also, you can exercise by walking during a lunch break or having a walking meeting where you talk as you walk. Taking the stairs instead of using the elevator can help as well. However, if your workstation is on the 20^th floor, taking the stairs may not be a realistic idea. Still, you can climb a few floors to give your muscles a workout. Learn to maintain a healthy lifestyle and take breaks whenever you can to avoid inactivity.

 

To learn more about living a healthy life, contact Cashae Spine & Sports in Silver Spring, Maryland at (240) 219-8975 to book an appointment today!