Sitting

An uncomfortable chair: it might help

Sitting is the act of resting your posterior, and in modern societies generally means in a chair. It is blamed for many health problems, and the modern "sedentary lifestyle" is considered a factor in rising levels of obesity, diabetes, back problems, etc.

Alternatives to sitting down include standing up and lying down. The health benefits of standing up have been widely promoted, with products such as standing desks considered by some to be great things, even though standing up all day carries its own health risks.

Time magazine claimed "Sitting Is Killing You" in an article where Dr. James Levine, director of the Mayo Clinic-Arizona State University Obesity Solutions Initiative, claimed that sitting should be a rare thing; to this end Levine promotes ideas such as the treadmill desk and standing meetings. But is there something uniquely bad about sitting, and is it more dangerous than other forms of inactivity? And more importantly, what can I buy to stop me sitting down?

Sitting problems

Sedentary lifestyle

It is generally believed that people sit down more than they used to, and in particular stand up and walk less. In the past, people might have walked long distances to work or to obtain food or water. Today many people will drive (although some will stand on over-crowded mass transit). Previously many people in the West worked in jobs that involved arduous physical labour performed standing up, such as agriculture or heavy industry; today many more people have desk jobs or work seated in jobs such as tele-sales, store cashier, professional driver, receptionist, and computer operator. Performing traditional forms of physical labour while standing is not necessarily healthy, particularly in a dangerous environment like a mine, mill, factory, construction site, foundry, farm, forest, ship, breakers yard, or battlefield, but remaining seated and motionless all day may have its own risks.

The particular problems with moving less include lack of exercise and lower calorie requirements. Lack of exercise is linked with cardiovascular disease and other conditions. Working while standing rather than sitting reportedly burns an extra 500-1000 calories per day. If you consume fewer calories than you use, you will gain weight, and obesity is also associated with many health problems. However, neither of these are related specifically to sitting: if you lie down or even stand up but do not move, the health outcome will be no different.

Having said that, the jobs with the biggest risk of coronary heart disease and stroke include security and waste management services, wholesaling (including distribution), and hospitality and food service, which don't necessarily require more sitting time than low-risk jobs like finance and insurance. Other research shows numerous health problems for those standing all day (see below). Clearly, there are many other risk factors beyond how much you sit down at work.

Back problems

Sitting is often associated with back problems and other skeletomuscular conditions. The exact posture is important, with slouching especially bad, but sitting all day especially in an unsuitable chair can cause problems in the back, neck, arms, and legs. Clearly if you are going to sit down, you should ensure that your chair is of good quality and properly adjusted and not remain motionless all day. The UCLA Spine Center recommends standing up and having a stretch or walk for a minute or 2 every 30 minutes.

Some people who have back problems will find it difficult or impossible to sit for long periods. Obviously, they should avoid sitting if possible. Whether this applies to others is an open question.

Deep vein thrombosis

Deep vein thrombosis is a potentially fatal condition where a blood clot forms in a vein, usually in the leg. It can be caused by sitting motionless, but is also caused by lying motionless, and exercise is a good way to avoid it. Few people, except perhaps pole-squatting mystics and teenagers, would suggest that remaining motionless all day is a good idea.

Sitting on other things

In the west, people typically sit on chairs which have a raised base and a back. However this is not the only option.

Sitting on the floor

Some alternative health people recommend sitting on the floor. Various health benefits are touted, most of which reduce to the fact that sitting cross-legged is good for the posture (it also allegedly promotes humility and good digestion). Plus, if you can sit on the floor and stand back up again, you're probably reasonably healthy to begin with.

Sitting on your haunches

The resting squat, sitting on your haunches, etc, is the position where you stand on the balls of your feet with the heels close together and fully lower the hips until they are supported by the legs and feet. Many people tout a wide variety of benefits. They commonly point out that human beings have sat like this from time immemorial, so squatting puts you in touch with your ancient ancestors, and many people also recommend it for pooping.

Although there is a lot of interest in whether squatting makes it easier to poop, there are fewer studies on the benefits of squatting when not pooping. Additionally, many people may have problems getting into a squatting position. And it's unclear if people can squat for as long as they can sit at a desk or in a chair, so it may not be directly comparable.

Kneeling chairs

A kneeling chair is a type of seat where some of the body's weight is supported by a pad below the knees and shins, with legs at an angle of about 60-70 degrees from vertical, in contrast to the normal seating posture where the upper legs are horizontal. It is claimed that kneeling chairs maintain better posture, preventing slumping and reducing pressure on the spine. They have the negative effect that they can cause knee pain unless they are properly cushioned.

Study results are mixed but some show improved posture and increased circulation. One small study showed particular benefits in healthy people, moreso than those with lower back pain. Another found improved posture compared to normal computing chairs. A note of caution is that most studies were very small-scale and only measured posture, not actual health outcomes.

But as long as your knees are adequately protected, there seems little risk, in contrast to some sitting solutions…

Exercise balls

Variously known as exercise, gym, or stability balls, big inflatable balls, often used by pregnant women, are recommended by some people as workplace seats. Various studies have found that while it may exercise more muscles, such balls are "just too damn uncomfortable to get any work done." After a while people sitting on them end up slouching, negating any benefits to posture, and the balls may pose a health and safety hazard in the workplace.

A 2006 study found the effects of sitting in a chair were "increased muscle activation in thoracic erector spinae (p=.0352), decreased pelvic tilt (p=.0114), and increased perceived discomfort (p<.0001)" — lower p means more certain. It concluded "The small changes in biological responses when sitting on a stability ball as compared with an office chair, combined with the increased reported discomfort while on the ball, suggests its use for prolonged sitting may not be advantageous." An article in Jezebel put it more succinctly: "Sitting on an Exercise Ball at Work Yields No Results Other Than Making You Look Like a Total Asshole".

Avoiding sitting

There are many things sold or promoted as ways to avoid a sedentary lifestyle and work in a more healthy way. However, many of them have downsides, and there are also health risks associated with being on your feet all day.

Standing desks

Donald Rumsfeld worked at a standing desk: it didn't cure him from being an asshole

These are becoming an increasingly mainstream product, typically allowing the user to adjust the height to produce a comfortable working position while standing. They seem to have some problems, with many prone to wobble, and they tend to be expensive (although you will save money by not buying a chair).

Treadmill desk

The treadmill desk combines a desk and a treadmill - it's like a standing desk except you walk. They typically run at a slow speed, with 1-2 mph (a very slow walking pace) common. They have been promoted as something to do for an hour or two, and using one all day can cause repetitive strain injuries, and may exacerbate existing foot and ankle problems. And while some activities like reading may be easy at a walking desk, the BBC's reporter found writing to be hard, and precision work would be even more difficult.

Walking meetings

Public Health England, a government agency, has promoted the benefits of having meetings while walking round.

Walking at a fast pace is generally considered a good form of exercise, with most sources emphasising the benefits of a brisk walk rather than an amble. Despite the depiction of characters striding along corridors while discussing important matters in Aaron Sorkin's work, a walking meeting may not really allow brisk walking, and may require sensible shoes and appropriate clothing.

Standing meetings are also promoted by some organisations, but more to stop people becoming too comfortable so that they shut up and stop whittering on and go out and do something useful, than for health reasons.

Dangers of standing

Standing up in itself can cause health problems. Health and safety publication Hazards magazine reported "individuals spending most of the day on their feet every working day are at greater risk of health problems including varicose veins, poor circulation and swelling in the feet and legs, foot problems, joint damage, heart and circulatory problems and pregnancy difficulties." This contradicts the claim that working standing up will reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems.

Standing is particularly problematic in those with unsuitable footwear. There are many ill effects caused by wearing high heels, not just to the feet. Workers are often forced to stand not for any requirement of the job but for image, e.g. to avoid looking lazy.

Standing desks are often bought with "anti-fatigue mats" to avoid foot pain, and a writer for Quartz Media found they also caused unsightly ankle swelling, known as "cankles".

Doubtless, as with most things (except smoking and incest), moderation is a good idea. Stand up every now and then if you're sitting, sit down if you're tired, and think before you take gym equipment into the workplace.