Standing desks have been introduced as a solution to the problem of sitting for long periods of time at work. But a study shows that standing desks do not compensate for inactivity and may even increase the risk of problems such as varicose veins and blood clots in the legs.
A new study led by researchers at the University of Sydney found that standing for more than two hours a day may increase the risk of developing problems such as deep vein thrombosis and varicose veins. The findings have been published in the International Journal of Epidemiology.
Dr Matthew Ahmadi from the University of Sydney’s School of Medicine and Health says people who sit or stand for long periods of time during the day should incorporate regular movement into their daily routine. Prolonged standing does not offset a sedentary lifestyle and can be dangerous for some people in terms of circulatory health.
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To determine whether standing has health benefits, researchers looked at data from around 83,000 people who were part of the UK Biobank database. These people did not have heart disease at the beginning of the study and wore devices on their wrists that tracked their movements. The researchers found that for every additional 30 minutes of standing beyond two hours, the risk of circulatory diseases increased by 11%.
According to the researchers, standing does not reduce the risk of heart diseases such as stroke, heart failure and coronary heart disease. Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis, director of the McKenzie Wearables Research Center at the University of Sydney, said: “For people who regularly sit for long periods of time, incorporating irregular activity and regular exercise throughout the day may be a better way to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. “During the hours at your desk, get up for a while, walk, use the stairs, take regular breaks when driving long distances, and move for a few minutes at lunch.”
New research findings emphasize the importance of being active during the working day. The more immobility you can avoid, the better. According to the results of the study, standing was not associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, but it did bring other problems for circulatory health, and to reduce these risks, we should stay active.
