The upright standing position of man. What it is, what benefits it has, and what it says about people is what we will discuss here. Despite many benefits of upright posture, standing also carries risks.
What is standing?
Standing is a form of posture. On average, humans stand for about 6 hours a day, fighting gravity over that period of time. Standing is a form of posture. On average, humans stand for about 6 hours a day and fight against gravity over this period of time. A characteristic of standing is that all joints are in the extension position. The trunk musculature must be pronounced and strong for this, so that this position can be maintained. The body weight rests on the ankles, knee joints and hip joints. The pelvis, spine and thorax provide the upper body with the necessary stability. In addition to the bony structures, the muscular apparatus also assumes a supporting function and can maintain balance and center the body’s center of gravity through appropriate stimulation.
Function and task
The standing position is aligned with the knee joints and hip joints in extension (stretched). The feet are spread hip-width apart. The pelvis, spine and sternum are erect. However, the anatomical-physiological lordosis and kyphosis (S-shaped swing) of the spine should be maintained. The arms are parallel to the upper body. The head is in the neutral zero position. Viewed laterally, the earlobe, shoulder, hip and knee joints, and lateral malleolus thus form a straight line. The body’s center of gravity is centered and aligned over the feet for a secure stance. Staying in this position for long periods of time is very strenuous for the human body, as the spine and feet are under constant stress. All large muscle groups are under tension for the holding function, all small muscle groups are working to maintain balance and stabilize the joints. The body has more effort in the standing position to maintain the cardiovascular system and ensure that blood does not pool in the periphery. From a scientific point of view, the upright position is necessary for food gathering, taking care of the family, transporting large quantities and other activities. This allows people to freely move both arms and perform work. Another advantage of the upright posture is that people can act more flexibly and move around if necessary. Scientists have also come to the conclusion that the brain functions better when standing upright because it is not affected by the radiating geothermal heat and can be cooled better by the air. This finding will apply especially to the early days of upright standing, when the first humans lived in primarily very warm areas. An upright posture is not only beneficial for flexibility and activities. It also says a lot about a person’s psyche, character and emotional state. From a psychological point of view, if one adopts an upright posture, not only the center of gravity of the body is centered, but also the mind. Thus, the upright posture has always been considered a sign of dignity, self-confidence and sovereignty. In addition, people appear more competent, approachable and sincere. The bent posture, on the other hand, shows insecurity, dissatisfaction and discomfort. Over time, this has given rise to many colloquial expressions, such as “maintaining posture” or “hunching over”. Basically, however, standing for long periods of time causes damage in the long run. Due to the anatomical and physiological structure of the human body, it is designed for dynamic movements and not for continuous persistence in one position.
Diseases and ailments
Standing upright for long periods of time can have short-term and long-term consequences. In the short term, there may be pain in the legs, burning sensation on the bottom of the feet, muscle cramps, pain in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine, and a feeling of “heavy” legs. Furthermore, fatigue may occur due to poorer blood flow to the brain. In the long term, edema may occur in the legs, mostly in the lower leg area. Varicose veins, thrombosis or a curvature of the spine due to poor posture can develop.Poor posture can lead to painful muscle tension (myogelosis). These can be the trigger for headaches or general discomfort, up to dizziness and visual disturbances. Blockages of the vertebral joints lead to pain, which is caused by increased pressure on the vertebral bodies and can be aggravated by rotational movement or hyperextension of the spine. The musculoskeletal system cannot be used to its full function, and protective postures develop as a protective mechanism to prevent possible injury. Often irreversible damage to the spine also occurs. This can be signs of wear and tear or even herniated discs. The symptoms are expressed by severe pain in the area of the spine. In some cases, numbness may occur in the extremities, as the gelatinous core of the intervertebral disc leaks out in the event of a herniation and can constrict or squeeze nerve tracts that run in the spinal canal. In addition to numbness, there may also be radiating pain in the affected extremities. The strain of static standing, coughing and sneezing and the associated pressure on the discs and muscles can exacerbate the pain. Patients at risk who engage in standing activities should take prophylactic precautions. Learning a functional upright posture, strengthening the entire postural apparatus and cardio training in the form of endurance training to strengthen the cardiovascular system can be preventive measures. In addition, the attending physician may prescribe compression stockings to support the vascular system and thus prevent blood from pooling in the periphery.
