Hey Mwodies,
Today’s mission is to lay some foundational work for all of you that have moved to a standing-based work station. If sitting is a skill based activity, you can bet your sweet pain ball that so is standing. Athletes make organizing mistakes all the time. Our goal is to make it EASY to train. What? You say that young leopards aren’t taught how to stand in school? I agree. Unless you were in gymnastics as a kid or had some serious movement coaching, chances are you are constantly blowing it. It may not be your deadlifting that’s tweaking your back. It may just be your crappy standing skills. Supple Up!
Kstar
PS. Kill your inner duck (feet). The Duck is the Devil.
20 Responses to “Episode 274/365: The Standing Athlete”
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I spent 30 yrs sitting at a desk selling stocks and bonds, wish I would have known better. The good news is I drink scotch. Never did like rum.
Will be seeing the Hermitage in August. I will be barefoot, tell the Russians it’s the latest American fad. See what you started Kstar
Dennis
Is there anything one can do to target their duck feet problem? Other than just forcing yourself to keep your feet pointed straight? Thanks.
A weak adductor complex can contribute to the duck stance.
thanks for this! I have been wanting to stand up to work for quite some time but just got a new job that will make this easier. I’m starting today after seeing this entry and getting a better idea for what it should ‘look like’ … amazing that something that should come so natural has been de-natured so much that we need to actually learn it. I’m really hoping this will help with tightness in my hip flexors. Some of your stretches (like the couch stretch) are really painful for me so maybe this passive stretching will get me there. Big up!
Love your site, keep up the great work!
what is this, a Coca-Cola commercial? Big fan thanks for all the mobility
It just amazes me how I long something new from kstar everyday. I’m onboard with Frank, I’m 53 and have walked like a duck for as long as I can remember. Also have had tight hips, hamstrings and ankle cords for as long as I can remember.
Also have a friend with Golfers elbow, inside rather than outside should he follow Episode 273 or is there a different MobRx for that?
Thanks for all the great info!
Henry
Thanks for the tip! At the urging of John Durrant I just started getting my stand on at work, so this will help!
When you stand with your feet forward, how wide apart should they be? Hip width? Shoulder? Together?
Great tips. There’s been a lot of discussion about excessive pronation of the foot. What about feet that supinate too much? I will attest that supination makes it difficult to work on heel cord mobility in a good position - the fifth metatarsal always wants to collapse. I imagine that my own lack of hip external rotation and hip transverse adduction doesn’t help the cause. Thoughts on foot supination would be greatly appreciated.
-Ben
A friend of mine sits on a swiss ball rather than a normal office chair, as opposed to standing. Would you recommend this to those who can’t change the height of there desk?
Regards
Kdawg,
So I’m two hours away from finishing my first official day of standing at work. My legs are a little fatigued but nothing crazy, interestingly it seems as though my calves are already feeling a nice stretch. I noticed while walking around though that my legs are a lot more “relaxed” surprisingly, like the walking is a welcomed break from the standing.
I have a question, is it bad to stand with your legs spread apart a little? Think of a “power stance” so that you’re facing forward at your computer but your feet are set apart wider than your shoulders. I’ve been alternating between just standing straight, opening up my stance, or giving one foot a break by bending it ala Charles Chaplin.
Not bad at all though! I think I can get used to this. Glad I finally jumped in. I’m brand new at this job so when a male coworker asked I said “I’m the new male in the clan, so I’m trying to establish my dominance, admit it, you’re a little intimidated.”
He laughed.
Love the Raphael Ruiz remark! LOL
OK that was pretty cool.
I’d been looking for a bar stool to buy for the standing desk I rigged up at home and now have dragged the step stool out if the pantry instead. Fantastic improvised tool.
And love the foot on desk stretch. I need to clear my desk off to pull it off, but it’s a great idea.
Thank-you very much.
Oh, but had totally thought of doing the ball thing while I was standing.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/06/24/sitting.shorten.life/index.html?hpt=hp_bn6
Sitting for hours can shave years off life
This isn’t the first study but hopefully it will prompt more people to get off and stay off their asses when possible!
Oh hells yea, homie, time to get me a standing desk for this office!!! BOOM!
Kelly, What about a kneeling chair? Have been thinking about getting one for awhile (tight hips). Not sure how well my swollen ankles would take standing all day. Input?
Seriously considering a standing desk, or a kneeling chair.
Wow small adjustments in the ‘duck feet’ seem to have an enormous impact on my hips. What is your take on sitting cross legged, Japanese style? Good for pelvic position or not?