There's been a lot of interest in the harmful effects of prolonged sitting at work, from academics and the public alike. The attention being paid to sitting – or rather, not sitting – while on the job stems from the scientifically validated message that being sedentary in general, both indoors and outdoors, is bad for your health.
However, comparatively little attention has been devoted to the harmful effects of prolonged standing at work, despite past studies linking it to chronic back pain and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the lower limbs.
There's been a lot of interest in the harmful effects of prolonged sitting at work, from academics and the public alike. The attention being paid to sitting – or rather, not sitting – while on the job stems from the scientifically validated message that being sedentary in general, both indoors and outdoors, is bad for your health.
However, comparatively little attention has been devoted to the harmful effects of prolonged standing at work, despite past studies linking it to chronic back pain and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the lower limbs.
What’s more, research has shown that prolonged standing might increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. That’s because standing too long can result in blood pooling in the legs, increased pressure in the veins and increased oxidative stress, all of which can contribute to an increased risk.
We recently published a study that adds to that body of evidence on the adverse health effects of prolonged standing. It compared the risk of heart disease among more than 7,000 workers in Ontario, followed over a 12-year period, across different types of occupations.
Continue reading at University of Toronto.
Photo via University of Toronto.
