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Standing can also be bad for you, says scientist studying desk set-up

9 points by samsolomon 11y ago

melling 11y ago
Hopefully we'll soon be able to rely less on long term studies and be able to better monitor changes in the human body as they occur. A 10th generation smartwatch and tricorder? http://tricorder.xprize.org http://tricorder.xprize.org
citizensixteen 11y ago
“On a long enough time line, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero.”
sydneysider 11y ago
Work seems to be the core issue here...
veidr 11y ago
This is one of those situations where over-fetishization of rigorous scientific data can harm your quality of living. Scientific testing of hypotheses is great, but it isn't the only way to know things. If you are 25 today and you wait for scientists to settle this issue, you could be retired by the time you have an answer. Meanwhile you will have spent decades sitting at crappy regular desk and missing out on the benefits of a sit-stand desk. Or, you could try it; your own n-1 experiment is actually all you need to find out if a sit-stand desk is better for you. A few years ago I tried a standing (only) desk. It was kind of interesting, but I didn't really like standing all day long. But I liked it enough that I splurged on a GeekDesk, with a push-button motorized lift unit that remembers my height for standing and sitting. Boom! Literally one of the best purchases I've ever made. I feel better every day. Sometimes I sit, sometimes I stand. I never get any discomfort in my back. Some of the hours I sort of bounce around on my feet and it seems that keeps my blood flowing and oxygenated and makes me more energetic. Even if that is a placebo effect, who cares? Still worth it. Motorized sit/stand desks don't have to reduce my risk of heart disease and anus cancer to be awesome. If they make you feel noticeably better when using a desk over extended periods, that is enough. And since the benefits are something you can feel with your own body, you don't have to wait for science; you can just try one for a week and find out.

9 points by samsolomon 11y ago

Hopefully we'll soon be able to rely less on long term studies and be able to better monitor changes in the human body as they occur. A 10th generation smartwatch and tricorder? http://tricorder.xprize.org http://tricorder.xprize.org

citizensixteen 11y ago

“On a long enough time line, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero.”

sydneysider 11y ago

Work seems to be the core issue here...

veidr 11y ago

This is one of those situations where over-fetishization of rigorous scientific data can harm your quality of living. Scientific testing of hypotheses is great, but it isn't the only way to know things. If you are 25 today and you wait for scientists to settle this issue, you could be retired by the time you have an answer. Meanwhile you will have spent decades sitting at crappy regular desk and missing out on the benefits of a sit-stand desk. Or, you could try it; your own n-1 experiment is actually all you need to find out if a sit-stand desk is better for you. A few years ago I tried a standing (only) desk. It was kind of interesting, but I didn't really like standing all day long. But I liked it enough that I splurged on a GeekDesk, with a push-button motorized lift unit that remembers my height for standing and sitting. Boom! Literally one of the best purchases I've ever made. I feel better every day. Sometimes I sit, sometimes I stand. I never get any discomfort in my back. Some of the hours I sort of bounce around on my feet and it seems that keeps my blood flowing and oxygenated and makes me more energetic. Even if that is a placebo effect, who cares? Still worth it. Motorized sit/stand desks don't have to reduce my risk of heart disease and anus cancer to be awesome. If they make you feel noticeably better when using a desk over extended periods, that is enough. And since the benefits are something you can feel with your own body, you don't have to wait for science; you can just try one for a week and find out.