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This may sounds like a trick question but the correct answer is standing on your feet for an hour is actually worse than walking. It is more tiring to stand in one place for an hour as it causes a few muscle groups in your feet and legs to fire for an extended period of time. When you are walking, all the muscles in your feet and legs are used as they share in the work. This prevents any one muscle from getting excessively tired.
Standing is a natural human posture and when done for short periods of time poses no particular health risk. However, when staying in one position for extended periods of time on a regular basis, sore feet, swelling of the legs, varicose veins, low back pain, and stiffness of the neck and shoulders may result. This is because keeping the body in a standing position requires muscular effort while it reduces the blood supply to these muscles. It is the lack of blood flow that causes muscles to tire more easily and causes pain in the feet, legs, back and neck.
It is important to plan properly for long periods of standing. A great way to promote circulation is to walk in place or make small movements. Another way to prevent standing stress is to wear proper shoes. A shoe that doesn’t change the shape of your foot, provides arch support, is properly padded, has a firm grip to support the heel, and has nonslip soles is the best shoe to wear. Other ways to reduce standing stress include using a foot rail or footrest to shift body weight between your feet. However, the best way to prevent stress from standing is to move, even just a little bit helps!
