Health and Me

Aarushi Bhadury

Excessive Standing May Not Be As Good As It’s Claimed; Studies Back This Data

(Credit-Canva)

Many workplaces in the US (especially retailers) are trying unconventional ways to increase productivity among the workers. If you think that standing desks are only meant for cutting the hazards of a sedentary job, you may be mistaken. Recently there has been an increasing trend of standing workstations and office spaces which have been causing issues for many people. In an interview with Associated Press, Margaux Lantelme, a retail worker in Chicago, shared her experience with how long working hours while standing has affected her health. Unlike her observations of European store cashiers who worked while seated, Lantelme's job at REI required her to stand for eight hours a day. As a former kayaking instructor, this made her chronic pain worse and also limited her mobility. While she initially did get a chair, a management change required her to undergo a lengthy and expensive process of obtaining doctor's approvals, which is still pending. 

While this may seem like a bizarre situation, it is a reality for many retail workers, minimum wage workers like waiters, cooks etc. You may think, ‘oh we stand all day, there is nothing wrong with it’ but you must remember that you get to rest whenever you feel tired, while these essential workers have to stay on their feet all day long. when you stand for many hours at work, day after day, it can cause problems. Your feet might hurt, your legs might swell up, and you could get those bumpy veins called varicose veins. You might feel tired all the time, and your back and neck might ache. People who work in shops, factories, and other places where they have to stand a lot often have these problems. It's not that standing is bad but doing it for too long without breaks can hurt your body over time. 

<h2><span rel="noindex">What Problems Does Standing All Day Long Cause</span>? </h2>

Imagine staying in one position all day. Your body doesn't like that. When your work area is set up poorly, you might have to stand in awkward ways, or you might not be able to move around much. This means your body can't change positions, and some muscles get tired while others do nothing. If your job isn't designed with how your body works in mind, you'll have trouble. You need to be able to move and change how you stand to keep your blood flowing and your muscles happy. When you can't, problems start to happen. 

According to the <span>Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety</span>, when you stand, your muscles work hard to keep you upright. This uses a lot of energy and slows down the blood flow to your legs, back, and neck. This lack of blood makes your muscles tired and sore. If you stand for hours without moving, blood can pool in your legs and feet. This can cause painful varicose veins and swelling. Also, your spine, hips, knees, and feet can get stiff from not moving. These problems build up over time and can become serious if you don't take care of them. 

<h2>What Are Some <span rel="noindex">Measures You Can Take To Ensure Your Safety</span>? </h2>

Standing for long periods at work can cause serious health problems like back and leg pain, heart issues, and tiredness. Research shows that using tools like floor mats, special chairs, and supportive shoes can help. It's important for workplaces to follow guidelines on how long people should stand and to make sure studies on this topic are clear and accurate. By using these simple solutions, workplaces can make standing less harmful for their employees. 

This means that if you're on your feet all day, your company should think about giving you ways to sit or move around. They should also provide things like soft mats to stand on and let you wear comfortable shoes. This helps keep you healthy and feeling good, so you can do your job without getting hurt. Your job should let you change positions often. Don't force yourself to bend, stretch, or twist too much. Work at a pace that's right for you. Take breaks to rest and move around. Learn how to stand and move properly. When you come back to work after being away, take it easy for a while. These simple things can help you avoid getting hurt. Your boss should help you learn how to do your job safely and give you time to rest. 

https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/ergonomics/standing/standing_basic.html 

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4591921/ 

https://apnews.com/article/workers-right-sit-standing-retail-unions-43ba3e9e36a2604c1b6ed9dc594e3b79#:~:text=Aches%2C%20pains%20and%20complications,for%20Occupational%20Safety%20and%20Health.

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Many workplaces in the US (especially retailers) are trying unconventional ways to increase productivity among the workers. If you think that standing desks are only meant for cutting the hazards of a sedentary job, you may be mistaken. Recently there has been an increasing trend of standing workstations and office spaces which have been causing issues for many people. In an interview with Associated Press, Margaux Lantelme, a retail worker in Chicago, shared her experience with how long working hours while standing has affected her health. Unlike her observations of European store cashiers who worked while seated, Lantelme's job at REI required her to stand for eight hours a day. As a former kayaking instructor, this made her chronic pain worse and also limited her mobility. While she initially did get a chair, a management change required her to undergo a lengthy and expensive process of obtaining doctor's approvals, which is still pending. While this may seem like a bizarre situation, it is a reality for many retail workers, minimum wage workers like waiters, cooks etc. You may think, ‘oh we stand all day, there is nothing wrong with it’ but you must remember that you get to rest whenever you feel tired, while these essential workers have to stay on their feet all day long. when you stand for many hours at work, day after day, it can cause problems. Your feet might hurt, your legs might swell up, and you could get those bumpy veins called varicose veins. You might feel tired all the time, and your back and neck might ache. People who work in shops, factories, and other places where they have to stand a lot often have these problems. It's not that standing is bad but doing it for too long without breaks can hurt your body over time. What Problems Does Standing All Day Long Cause? Imagine staying in one position all day. Your body doesn't like that. When your work area is set up poorly, you might have to stand in awkward ways, or you might not be able to move around much. This means your body can't change positions, and some muscles get tired while others do nothing. If your job isn't designed with how your body works in mind, you'll have trouble. You need to be able to move and change how you stand to keep your blood flowing and your muscles happy. When you can't, problems start to happen. According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, when you stand, your muscles work hard to keep you upright. This uses a lot of energy and slows down the blood flow to your legs, back, and neck. This lack of blood makes your muscles tired and sore. If you stand for hours without moving, blood can pool in your legs and feet. This can cause painful varicose veins and swelling. Also, your spine, hips, knees, and feet can get stiff from not moving. These problems build up over time and can become serious if you don't take care of them. What Are Some Measures You Can Take To Ensure Your Safety? Standing for long periods at work can cause serious health problems like back and leg pain, heart issues, and tiredness. Research shows that using tools like floor mats, special chairs, and supportive shoes can help. It's important for workplaces to follow guidelines on how long people should stand and to make sure studies on this topic are clear and accurate. By using these simple solutions, workplaces can make standing less harmful for their employees. This means that if you're on your feet all day, your company should think about giving you ways to sit or move around. They should also provide things like soft mats to stand on and let you wear comfortable shoes. This helps keep you healthy and feeling good, so you can do your job without getting hurt. Your job should let you change positions often. Don't force yourself to bend, stretch, or twist too much. Work at a pace that's right for you. Take breaks to rest and move around. Learn how to stand and move properly. When you come back to work after being away, take it easy for a while. These simple things can help you avoid getting hurt. Your boss should help you learn how to do your job safely and give you time to rest. Sources https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/ergonomics/standing/standing_basic.html https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4591921/ https://apnews.com/article/workers-right-sit-standing-retail-unions-43ba3e9e36a2604c1b6ed9dc594e3b79#:~:text=Aches%2C%20pains%20and%20complications,for%20Occupational%20Safety%20and%20Health.