Is Standing a Workout? Here’s What an Expert Says

The summer is filled with music festivals, days putzing around a museum, catching live music live shows, and events that keep us on our feet. Sometimes, yow will discover yourself doing a whole lot of standing around for several hours. And consider it or not, these long hours in your feet can leave you feeling sore and fatigued. But is standing a workout?

Based on Heather Hamilton, ACSM certified exercise physiologist and cofounder of Barpath Fitness, the reply is: Not a lot.

“Standing for a protracted time frame might be physically demanding and will contribute to increased energy expenditure in comparison with sitting or sedentary activities; nonetheless, it is usually not considered a proper workout in the standard sense,” she says.

When looking to envision the box of “what makes a workout,” Hamilton is on the lookout for activities that elevate your heart rate and actions that encourage flexibility and mobility, amongst other things. “Standing alone doesn’t elevate your heart rate significantly, nor does it challenge your cardiovascular system in the identical way that aerobic exercises like running, cycling, or swimming do,” she says. “Cardiovascular exercises are essential for improving heart health, stamina, and overall endurance.”

Hamilton also notes that standing is just targeting the muscles of your lower body without enough resistance or intensity to effectively strengthen and construct muscle mass. So, it’s a no-go on true strength constructing.

Okay, standing is not a workout, but are there any advantages to doing it for long durations?

While it’s not checking the box for getting that day by day fitness in, your body can profit for being in your feet often. “Standing for prolonged periods primarily engages the muscles of your legs, core, and back to keep up an upright posture and support your body weight,” Hamilton says. “This will result in improved muscle tone and increased calorie burn in comparison with sitting. It will probably also provide some advantages in your cardiovascular health by promoting blood circulation and stopping prolonged periods of inactivity.”

Find out how to cope with soreness from standing rather a lot

Despite the fact that it’s not technically a workout, sometimes prolonged standing can make you are feeling sore, so, what gives? Hamilton explains that this might be from a protracted list of reasons like muscle fatigue, lack of movement, or event poor posture. “The muscles are continuously working to keep up an upright posture and support your body weight, which might result in soreness and discomfort,” she says.

Particularly, standing in a single position for a protracted time frame— you, all-day music festival attendees—restricts blood flow and reduces your body’s muscle contractions. When this happens, Hamilton says, your body gets a buildup of waste products like lactic acid within the muscles, contributing to soreness and stiffness.

You might even be feeling sore after standing due to poor posture or conditioning. Hamilton says that poor posture (like slouching or standing and putting added pressure on one leg) while standing can put added stress on certain muscles and joints, which makes us feel sore the subsequent day. “When you’re not accustomed to standing for long periods, your muscles might not be conditioned to handle the prolonged demand,” she says. “Lack of strength and endurance within the relevant muscle groups can contribute to soreness.”

Combat those long days of standing by intentionally setting aside time to maneuver around, stretch, and even hydrate. When you know you’ve gotten a protracted day ahead, get in a light-weight workout prior.

Here’s a 19-minute, full-body stretch to get your body warmed up and able to be in your feet: