Is standing to work as good for you as running a marathon?

Research from the University of Chester shows that you burn an extra 0.7 calories for every minute that you stand up to work instead of sitting down. That may not sound like much but, over the course of a year, it adds up to 30,000 extra calories: the same as the expected calorie consumption of running 10 marathons a year!

The easy way to stand at work

Sit-stand desks are becoming more common in offices and have a positive effect both on personal health and the overall working environment.

The research into the health benefits of standing to work shows us how important it is to vary our posture throughout the day. As well as the additional calories burnt by standing, sitting all day has been shown to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and musculoskeletal problems. Studies have also shown that even regular exercise cannot compensate for the negative effects on your health of long hours of sitting.

"Sedentary work makes our movements monotonous and makes it easier to incur repetitive strain injuries, which can be avoided by varying your posture," says occupational therapist, Gitte Krantz from the Amadeus Clinic in Halmstad, Sweden.

Small changes make a big difference

Good ergonomics helps to prevent muscle aches and joint pain, as well as the stress associated with these issues. In light of this, it goes without saying that more and more people are taking ergonomics in the workplace seriously. It only takes relatively small changes to achieve better corporate health, but the benefits can be revolutionary, both for the employees and for the company. After all, happy and healthy employees make for a productive business!

Starting to change your working position has a lot to do with adapting your general behavior and making variety a natural part of everyday life. Gitte recommends that you "switch between standing and sitting and take frequent breaks during which you let the body relax completely. We often repeat the same movements while we work so our movements become static and repetitive." She advises simple steps such as using a printer in a different room to the one where you work to encourage natural breaks and get more movement into your working day.