If you are thinking about standing for long periods during work hours to avoid the dangers of sitting at a desk, this may not be the right decision.
A study conducted in Australia found that standing for prolonged periods instead of sitting does not protect the body from the harms of a sedentary lifestyle. Rather, standing without actual movement or physical training has no benefit on the body’s circulatory system.
As part of the study conducted at the University of Sydney in Australia and published in the scientific journal Journal of Epidemiology, researchers asked 83,000 British volunteers to wear special electronic devices to measure movement and collect data on the heartbeat and functions of the circulatory system.
The results revealed after 7 or 8 years that standing for prolonged periods does not benefit health, but on the contrary increases the risk of developing circulatory problems such as blood clots and varicose veins in the legs.
One of the researchers participating in the study told the Health Day website, which specializes in medical research: “For those who sit for long periods regularly, performing continuous movements throughout the day and practicing physical exercises may be a better way to prevent heart and arterial diseases.”
The researcher advised getting rest throughout the day for the purpose of movement, and taking advantage of these periods to perform physical activities such as walking or going up and down stairs to maintain health.