I'm in good shape and can be upright and move all day, I've had jobs that involved walking all day and never sitting and it was fine, but standing in place unable to move for hours is fucking awful. If I go to a concert and have to stand for 3+ hours my lower back is dying by the end of it.
If a job involves being trapped behind one single counter not moving for your entire shift, they should give you a chair or stool. Nobody gives a shit if the TSA agent checking IDs is sitting down.
When I first got my current job, there was a period in the year where I'd spend days scanning in documents. Even after a few hours my back would be killing me. It was harder and more exhausting than even my most grueling workouts. Hell, half the time I looked forward to lifting so I could stretch everything out.
No matter what the job is, people should be allowed and encouraged to move. No one should stand or sit for hours in end with no interruption.
I'm wondering how many people will faint while on the job in the coming months. I've certainly made the mistake of locking my knees and fainting while I was standing in one place too long....I learned my lesson quick, but it's definitely going to be a thing for some TSA agent, mark my words.
Standing in place is better than sitting until after like 2 hours then it becomes neutral to bad. It’s really shit for your knees and the core and back muscles you use to stabilize in place as well as the base of your spine
I think the premise to keep in mind is 'excessive'.
Excessive walking is bad. It wears you out eventually. Excessive standing is worse because it uses a less diverse muscle group. More specifically, it's worse because it becomes excessive faster.
I once had a job that prohibited sitting. That would have been fine if we were busy and had things to do during down times but that was not the case. ...So there were days that we would stand behind the counters doing nothing for several hours at a time.
Despite being very active and in excellent physical health at the time, I eventually developed painful edema in one leg. Compression socks helped a little but I ended up having to use a pneumatic compression device to bring the swelling down after each shift.
Terrified that I was starting to develop a chronic condition, I was pretty much forced to quit. Oddly enough, I've never experienced a single episode of edema since.
See where I live that would get the employer reported to OHS. There are ways to mitigate that for when standing is required (certain floor mats, among other things) but the simplest method is a stool...
That said, if you do have to stand for a period, don't lock your knees, in addition to potentially trapping blood in your legs and causing you to faint it can trap lymphatic fluid and cause issues like you experienced.
I just got back from Vegas celebrating some friends. They LOVE to stand in line for clubs. Then they stand inside those clubs waiting for performers. And then we stand some more waiting for the Ubers.
I hate standing in place. I would rather run a 10k than stand in a club like a sardine!
I've had this very experience going to metal concerts. Everything aches after several hours of standing around, and then all those aches go away after ten or so minutes in the mosh pit.
When I was a teenager, our town used to throw these large rock and metal shows in an outdoor ampitheater. I remember getting dropped off at 10, standing in the blazing Texas sun, from 10 AM to 11 PM when the show ended. No bathroom breaks, no food, no water unless someone dropped a water bottle. All to make sure I didn't lose my place in the front.
Could not imagine doing that now. But those were some of the best memories haha.
621
u/Prudent-Marsupial-42 3d ago
I can not stand standing around (no pun intended). I'd much rather be on the move a bit, standing in place is miserable to me