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Minimal exercise can counteract sedentary lifestyle | Toronto Star Dr Dina Brooks

Home / Ergnomic Design / Minimal exercise can counteract sedentary lifestyle | Toronto Star Dr Dina Brooks
The only way to prevent ergonomic risks associated with sitting is DYNAMIC movement NOT sit to stand workstations

The only way to prevent ergonomic risks associated with sitting is DYNAMIC movement NOT sit to stand workstations

Minimal exercise can counteract sedentary lifestyle | Toronto Star.

I went to U of T with Dr Dina Brooks. She was one smart cookie then in this area of expertise and clearly remains so today. Have a read all you sedentary employees ….read this in standing before you head out for your walk would be even better.

Read this article very slowly so you can see what Dr Brooks is saying. It is DYNAMIC MOVEMENT which is required to offset the impact of sedentary or what we call static sitting.
The use of sit to stand workstations which results in sedentary/static standing postures is NOT the same as DYNAMIC movement such as holding walking meetings, using the stairs vs the elevator, regular walking during lunch, performing exercises around your work area.

They key word is dynamic. There is no evidence in the literature which shows benefits in standing statically via sit to stand workstations. There is evidence which has been reviewed in previous Blogs by OPC Inc. to show the cardio & vascular risks associated with static standing.

Our recommendation remains the same to our clients; 1. do not fall into the marketing trap which tells you sit to stand workstations are a panacea; 2 do not let outside doctors and therapists dictate what equipment your employee should be provided with (that is the job of the ergonomists who know and have measured your workloads and job demands).

A copy of this article on every employee’s desk or in box is a good first step in getting employees moving each and every day.

Read more evidence by Dr Dina Brooks at the University of Toronto, and some of the key work at Cornell University on the evidence for static sitting postures as being a health plus an ergonomic risk.

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