Introduction to the Experiment

Experts have long said that standing is better than sitting—but a gruelling experiment undertaken by one man has revealed it may not be as beneficial as we’ve been told.

In a YouTube video that has amassed nearly four million views, Lucas Ball, a US-based ‘self-certified stunt man’, refused to sit down for five days in order to test the health benefits of remaining upright.

For 16 hours a day he stood and could only relax when he was sleeping, which he set himself a strict eight hour timer for.

There were exceptions however, for example squatting over the toilet and having to drive his car—though he didn’t let his bum touch the seat.

‘So, I’ve stood up. I can’t sit back down now. This Journey has begun,’ he said as the experiment commenced.

Commenting on the use of his standing desk at the start of the experiment, Mr Ball said he’d seen initial ‘promising’ results, as the position left him feeling ‘productive’, with little opportunity to get distracted

‘I had a ton of energy, and I wasn’t even thinking about sitting down,’ he said.

The video sees him watching TV, eating his dinner and performing physical exercise like lifting weights, all while standing up.

Lucas Ball stood for five days to test the theory that standing is better than sitting. By the end, he said his posture took a hit, with his upper back more rounded into a slouching position and he gained a pound on the scale

Challenges Faced During the Experiment

But by day three it was taking a toll on his body, his posture was getting worse and he started to gain weight.

He said: ‘On day three it really hit me in the lower legs and feet, I felt very sore and tired. On top of this I was also extremely hungry,’ adding that eating distracted him from the pain.

‘Maybe I was hungry from burning extra calories, but one thing I noticed is that when I was eating, it took my mind off of standing up. Partially for this reason, I constantly ate throughout the entire day.’

‘When I got towards the end, and I started to relax that is where the soreness and fatigue really started to creep in,’ adding that even in bed he couldn’t find relief as the soreness in his legs meant he couldn’t get comfortable.

‘It has been rough waking up, getting up, walking around.’

By the end of the five days, he said his posture took a hit, with his upper back more rounded into a slouching position.

As well as the joint ache in his knees and hip, he gained a pound on the scale.

He said: ‘My hip, and knees are kind of starting to ache in a way that’s more than just muscular.

‘It looks like I’m mainly going in a negative direction when it comes to this experiment, but I had a ton of great experiences and a ton of eye—opening moments.’

‘When I got towards the end, and I started to relax that is where the soreness and fatigue really started to creep in,’ he said

Positive Outcomes of the Experiment

Despite the pain, the YouTuber said that the standing challenge had helped his lower back pain

However, there appeared to be a silver lining.

By the end of the ordeal his lower back felt ‘incredible’ and far less less tight.

What’s more, he developed extra curve in his lower spine, which is known to help improve balance and flexibility.

The YouTuber also noticed his digestion was ‘faster and smoother’, as the gravity meant food empties from the stomach more quickly.

Comparison with Existing Research

People in the UK spend an average of about nine hours sitting per day.

It comes as a recent study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology found that standing more than sitting does not lower the chances of suffering heart and vascular issues.

The Australian scientists, who tracked the exercise patterns of more than 80,000 people in the UK, found standing for two hours daily did little to reduce the chance of developing circulatory problems.

Dr Matthew Ahmadi, an expert in population health at the University of Sydney and study lead author, said: ‘Standing for too long will not offset an otherwise sedentary lifestyle and could be risky for some people in terms of circulatory health.

‘We found that standing more does not improve cardiovascular health over the long term and increases the risk of circulatory issues.’

Conclusion

The experiment conducted by Lucas Ball highlights the potential risks and benefits of standing for extended periods. While it may have some positive effects on digestion and lower back pain, it can also lead to fatigue, soreness, and poor posture. It is essential to maintain a balance between sitting, standing, and physical activity to ensure overall health and well-being.