Standing for extended periods can lead to significant lower stomach and hip issues. Arousing muscle activity in the hip muscle can lead to lower back pain. Long standing can also cause muscle exhaustion. Solutions such as using a footrest are often used. But could changing your arm positions also ease back pain?

Researchers looked into this. They checked what happens when women who experience back pain while standing use a footrest and change their arm positions.  Over an hour, changes were tracked using electrical signals and camera measurements.

The researchers split the participants into two groups. Group A kept their feet raised periodically while standing.  Group B did the same plus used their arms to move them from the sides.

Researches compared the hip muscle activity and back curvature in both groups.  Both groups overall felt less strain.  This is a great point to think about when considering back pain in the workplace.

The second group overall felt a lot less hip and back strain, even though they could still change their arm positions. People who are going to stand for hours on the job may want to consider both of these approaches.  The changes in posture should hopefully help lower pain in the long term.  This could be beneficial for those who stand for work, such as cashiers, chefs, or teachers by greatly reducing lower back pain.

The study highlights the importance of changing foot and arm positions for people who stand for long periods.

How to Reduce Pain and Improve Posture While Standing in Workplace Environments

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