4 ms·

I live in Thailand. People can squat here. People have all sorts of sitting and office injuries just like in the West.

Mithaldu 9y ago
Similar. I do powerlifting, i have a great squat and regularly use it for relaxing or doing things at home in a comfortable pose. My back still has issues from sitting all day to program.
- smichel17 9y ago
  Take breaks to rest your back! Humans aren't "designed" to hold the same position for hours on end. Even short (20 second, even) breaks can be extremely helpful: Lie on your back. Knees bent / legs up, so your back is fully supported by the floor. Arms at your sides, hands on your stomach or whatever the most neutral position is. Small pillow / book under your head to keep that portion of your spine properly curved. Source: family member is an Alexander Technique teacher, also personal experience.
  - Mithaldu 9y ago
    That's useful info, thank you. :) I'm actually surprised by the legs part since i would've thought proper pose is legs down.
pan69 9y ago
My wife is Thai. She often squats while "sitting" on a chair at the table.
lazyjones 9y ago
Perhaps we need squatting tables, not toilets. Apparently standing desks won't fix all health problems ... https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/mar/28/is-a-stand-up-desk-really-healthier https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/mar/28/is-a-st...
- kbart 9y ago
  Any fixed, static posture is bad for prolonged times. You need to move (a lot) to stay healthy.
  - keymone 9y ago
    i find myself moving more when doing standup desk fwiw.
  - sk1pper 9y ago
    What’s the solution for those of us (probably everyone here) that spend 8+ hours a day on the computer then, if not a standup desk?
    - Jtsummers 9y ago
      Find a reason to get up and move. Drink water, refill it when empty, go to the bathroom more frequently as a result. Take breaks to go outside and lap the building or parking lot a couple times a day. When I worked with smokers, I would take a break every time they did, though I'd go for a walk instead. That worked out particularly well because when a boss tried to call me on it I asked why the smokers were able to take so many breaks but I wasn't (I was outside for no longer than they were, and often less time as I aimed to complete the lap quickly, not leisurely). Collaborate with colleagues in person rather than via your office's messaging app when possible. Not to the point of disrupting them, but if they ask you a question that is reasonably complicated, go to them and communicate it in person. If they're free to answer yours, go to them and hear the answer. I don't know about the other people here, but I'm not coding, documenting, etc. for 8 hours a day. It's maybe 4 hours a day with the rest being communication and thinking time.
    - JeremyNT 9y ago
      > What’s the solution for those of us (probably everyone here) that spend 8+ hours a day on the computer then, if not a standup desk? Why preclude a stand up desk? I have at least five different positions I use at my office that I switch between periodically: 1) Stand up desk, up 2) Stand up desk, down, seated (office chair) 3) Stand up desk, down, seated (balance ball) 4) Meeting room, laptop on table 5) Random chair around the office, laptop in lap I also try to stay hydrated and intentionally use the restroom furthest from my office to just get a few steps in throughout the day, which helps more than you might think. The stand up desk makes a massive difference. I can't handle working from home now.
majani 9y ago
And there lies the depressing truth about health and fitness: it's mostly dependent on genetics. The many optimisations you read about are only a small part of the equation

Similar. I do powerlifting, i have a great squat and regularly use it for relaxing or doing things at home in a comfortable pose. My back still has issues from sitting all day to program.

smichel17 9y ago
Take breaks to rest your back! Humans aren't "designed" to hold the same position for hours on end. Even short (20 second, even) breaks can be extremely helpful: Lie on your back. Knees bent / legs up, so your back is fully supported by the floor. Arms at your sides, hands on your stomach or whatever the most neutral position is. Small pillow / book under your head to keep that portion of your spine properly curved. Source: family member is an Alexander Technique teacher, also personal experience.
- Mithaldu 9y ago
  That's useful info, thank you. :) I'm actually surprised by the legs part since i would've thought proper pose is legs down.

pan69 9y ago

My wife is Thai. She often squats while "sitting" on a chair at the table.

lazyjones 9y ago

Perhaps we need squatting tables, not toilets. Apparently standing desks won't fix all health problems ... https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/mar/28/is-a-stand-up-desk-really-healthier https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/mar/28/is-a-st...

kbart 9y ago
Any fixed, static posture is bad for prolonged times. You need to move (a lot) to stay healthy.
- keymone 9y ago
  i find myself moving more when doing standup desk fwiw.
- sk1pper 9y ago
  What’s the solution for those of us (probably everyone here) that spend 8+ hours a day on the computer then, if not a standup desk?
  - Jtsummers 9y ago
    Find a reason to get up and move. Drink water, refill it when empty, go to the bathroom more frequently as a result. Take breaks to go outside and lap the building or parking lot a couple times a day. When I worked with smokers, I would take a break every time they did, though I'd go for a walk instead. That worked out particularly well because when a boss tried to call me on it I asked why the smokers were able to take so many breaks but I wasn't (I was outside for no longer than they were, and often less time as I aimed to complete the lap quickly, not leisurely). Collaborate with colleagues in person rather than via your office's messaging app when possible. Not to the point of disrupting them, but if they ask you a question that is reasonably complicated, go to them and communicate it in person. If they're free to answer yours, go to them and hear the answer. I don't know about the other people here, but I'm not coding, documenting, etc. for 8 hours a day. It's maybe 4 hours a day with the rest being communication and thinking time.
  - JeremyNT 9y ago
    > What’s the solution for those of us (probably everyone here) that spend 8+ hours a day on the computer then, if not a standup desk? Why preclude a stand up desk? I have at least five different positions I use at my office that I switch between periodically: 1) Stand up desk, up 2) Stand up desk, down, seated (office chair) 3) Stand up desk, down, seated (balance ball) 4) Meeting room, laptop on table 5) Random chair around the office, laptop in lap I also try to stay hydrated and intentionally use the restroom furthest from my office to just get a few steps in throughout the day, which helps more than you might think. The stand up desk makes a massive difference. I can't handle working from home now.

majani 9y ago

And there lies the depressing truth about health and fitness: it's mostly dependent on genetics. The many optimisations you read about are only a small part of the equation