Does active sitting make a difference?

There’s an abundance of credible research out there about how harmful a sedentary lifestyle can be. All of our major organs, including the brain, eventually go into slow motion mode (except the pancreas, which bombards our cells with insulin). It’s bad, I think we all know that.

But sometimes, you just need to sit to get certain work done.

Active sitting, thankfully, has been shown to make a positive impact on health. But not all active sitting is equally beneficial, so read on.

(See this great illustrative post from the Washington Post about how sitting affects various parts of your body.)

From the Washington Post article

One of the most harmful aspects of sitting for long periods of time is the core loses strength, the back becomes stiff and we often end up slouching. It’s a perfect storm of factors that contribute to muscle loss and disc degeneration down the line. All of these issues are not necessarily erased by interjecting movement throughout the day (although that helps).

In our backs, it’s not just muscle stiffness we’re feeling, it’s actually collagen in the ligaments and joints hardening from poor circulation. While standing up to stretch may feel like a relief, the process continues when you sit back down 30 seconds later.

Active/dynamic sitting is a way of setting yourself up to emulate the natural movements we make while standing and walking. While a core exercise routine is great, it can’t make up for the lost opportunity of having spent eight hours of the day using your core very little. Even during light activity, such as walking around the house or standing and talking to someone, we’re engaging our core and back to keep us upright much more than we are just sitting against the back of a chair.

Research has shown that humans naturally adjust their posture 2–3 times per minute when standing, engaging all kinds of muscles that support posture. When we sit statically in a normal chair, these muscles relax and weaken.

(Don’t try this at home it’s just for laughs.)

There are a few different options for active sitting but only one, so far, has been shown to actually be effective. (It’s not the hula chair). While balance balls do help attention-challenged students focus better in the classroom, research done in the workplace has show that people tend to slouch just as much as they do in a normal chair. For kids who sit for half an hour and then get up and play (we hope) it’s a better alternative than chairs, but for adults in the workplace, it doesn’t help correct posture.

Maybe worth keeping around for stretching though?

What has been shown to be effective in improving posture and engaging a range of muscles, are ergonomic stools that allow for motion. With a smaller surface area for the seat and no back to lean against, it is less comfortable and more noticeable when you begin to slouch. When the stool is tilted forward, so that you are perched more than sitting on it, it further engages your core and encourages good posture.

The other benefit that researchers noted with a “wobbling” stool is that motion can actually help you focus. Especially for self-described fidgeters, rocking, swaying and even bouncing a bit, without leaving your chair, lets out energy that would otherwise distract you. If you use a standing desk, a balance stool can help make standing feel less cumbersome by giving the option for a quick, comfortable break without having to lower your desk. It works at a traditional desk as well, though.

To start out keep in mind your balance stool should have a weighted base made of non-slip rubber, a range that will allow you to adjust it properly for your height (sitting or standing) and a seat that has sloping edges to avoid crimping circulation when your legs are pressed against it. Good luck!

In case you want a great product for active sitting, check out our ErgoStool.