London

Standing desks were introduced in some workplaces not so long ago to address health issues associated with long hours of sitting. But now a large study has found that these design innovations cannot solve heart problems or stroke risk. Long hours of standing could even lead to more health troubles like vein swelling and blood clots in the legs.

Advertisment

The Sydney University study reached this conclusion after examining data of 83,013 adults in the Biobank health records database of the UK.

Watch: 75% employees already using AI at work: Report

×

Advertisment

Standing for extended periods may fail to address health issues linked to long hours of sitting, it found.

On the other hand, standing could raise the possibility of circulator issues like deep vein thrombosis and varicose veins, said the study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology.

Advertisment

It found no significant reduction in heart disease risks in long hours of standing. 

For every extra 30 minutes spent standing beyond two hours, the risk of circulatory disease rises by 11 per cent, according to the study. 

Also read: Bajaj employee dies by suicide, cites ‘work pressure’ and ‘no sleep for 45 days’ for his extreme step

“The key takeaway is that standing for too long will not offset an otherwise sedentary lifestyle and could be risky for some people in terms of circulatory health. We found that standing more does not improve cardiovascular health over the long-term and increases the risk of circulatory issues,” The Guardian quoted Dr Matthew Ahmadi, the study's lead author, as saying. 

So what's the way out?

Regular movement through the day is important, according to the study.

Maintaining an active lifestyle is key to reducing disease risk.

Whether sitting or standing, one should avoid prolonged periods of inactivity.

Also read: No more 9 to 5: Employees are now unofficially changing work hours to 10 to 4, data shows

“Take regular breaks, walk around, go for a walking meeting, use the stairs, take regular breaks when driving long distances, or use that lunch hour to get away from the desk and do some movement,” said Emmanuel Stamatakis, the director of the Mackenzie Wearables Research Hub at the University of Sydney.

Incorporating movement and structured exercise is a more effective strategy for reducing cardiovascular disease risk, Stamatakis said as quoted by The Guardian.

Emily McGrath at the British Heart Foundation said the study showed the importance of being active during the working day.

"The more people can avoid being stationary, the better...it is important to get active to reduce this risk,” the paper quoted her as saying.

(With inputs from agencies)