Stand or sit? New risk for office workers revealed!
New studies show that standing in the office is not healthier than sitting. Find out what experts recommend to promote health.
Stand or sit? New risk for office workers revealed!
In today's working world, many people are tied to a desk, and that has its pitfalls. Although until recently it was said that sitting brings the new health risks with it and you should be better, new studies show that standing is also not the healthy lifestyle that was hoped for. What was intended as a solution to the health problems of the office workers could now not be sufficiently found.
The latest knowledge from Australia show that standing in the workplace does not have the hoped -for health benefits. A study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology revealed that a longer standing does not reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. On the contrary, it can even lead to orthostatic diseases, such as leg vein thrombosis that can be painful and dangerous. Matthew Ahmadi, who led the investigation, explains: "The core message is that long is not the disadvantages of a sedentary lifestyle."
Health risks when standing
The researchers at the University of Sydney have analyzed data from 83,000 adults over a period of seven years. The result was clear: the one who is more than two hours a day increases his risk of these health problems by 11 percent with every additional half hour. It is less well known that long standing can also lower blood pressure, which is good for the heart at short notice, but increases the risk of falling. Therefore, people who spend a large part of their working day while standing should pause and move again and again.
The daily tasks of professions in which you stand a lot are also stressful. Whether surgeons in the operating room or bartender - the legs are put under pressure and can swell if you do not move regularly. Experts recommend that standing only by occasional walking or rocking is interrupted on the toes to activate the muscle pump in the ankles that transports the blood to the heart.
Alternative solutions for office work
But how can employees stay healthy in the office? The answer to the question of the optimal attitude is complicated. Balls have proven to be impractical because they can be dangerous if you get up briefly and fall in the imbalance. Although deck chairs may seem comfortable, but can lead to the risk of an “office sleep”.
A possible approach could be to introduce treadles in the offices. This concept could help employees move more regularly, even during work. Doctors agree that people who spend a lot of time while sitting should integrate more movement into their everyday life. Short, intensive efforts - such as regular climbing stairs or a short walk to the colleague - can significantly reduce the risk of health problems. It is even said that six minutes of movement a day can be enough to promote health.
With various methods and ideas that could revolutionize office work, the "Hampelmann" could soon become an integral part of everyday work. Movement not only activates all muscle groups, but also gets the cardiovascular system going and could be the key to better health in the workplace.
Details on these research results and the associated recommendations were specifically from www.sueddeutsche.de published. It remains exciting to observe how companies will integrate these knowledge into their work culture.