WHEN Vicky Mason ditched her work chair to stand at her desk, it was a bold step to ease back pain which had nagged her for 30 years.
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Now two years later she is pain-free and feeling fit and invigorated with renewed energy.
Thousands of other office workers across Australia are also adopting the standing approach as increasing health research shows spending too long sitting at work, commuting or at leisure increases the risk of diabetes, cancer, heart disease and early death.
The average Aussie sits for nine hours a day — longer than most people sleep.
Notables including Thomas Jefferson, Winston Churchill, Virginia Woolf and Ernest Hemingway also preferred standing to sitting.
“It’s great for your posture and strengthens your core muscles,” said Ms Mason, who is Warrnambool City Council’s community development manager.
“I’d had a significant back injury for about 30 years, but since I changed to standing at my desk I haven’t had that problem.
“Sometimes I used to be flat on the floor in pain.
“Now I don’t need to keep going to the physio or take painkillers.
“There’s a growing body of evidence to say standing more is good for you.
“If people do 30 minutes exercise in a gym then go and sit eight hours at work the exercise is negated.”
Ms Mason said she started the vertical posture as an experiment by putting objects under her keyboard and computer screen, before arranging for a mechanical lift desk to be brought into the office.
Not only has it improved her health, it also means meetings in the office are short and sharp.