is intermittent frequent standing as effective as continuous standing...

[Random]

is intermittent frequent standing as effective as continuous standing of about the same net duration?


That's it.

[Snowman]

Interesting question and not one that I have seen any research on....though there definately could be.

[wildwilly]

Below is the abstract to an article on standing and bone density. They do not mention specific frequency only that those who had different daily standing times of one hour or greater had slightly better proximal femur density and preserved lumbar density. I believe there is free full text for those interested.

The article points out that there is still argument as to the cause of bone loss resulting from SCI (hormonal vs immobilization). Depending on the level and severity of injury, it is most likely a combination in many cases. However, we know from studies on the effects of space flight that several factors are most likely at work disrupting skeletal homeostasis (see link below for abstract and free full text).

Astronauts in general have "normal" or intact CNS/ANS yet they experience bone loss. I found one comment in the discussion very interesting. "There is one caveat concerning the effectiveness (exercise), however, is whether crew compliance with the prescription and equipment reliability in space has been adequate".


J Spinal Cord Med. 2008;31(2):197-201.

Does standing protect bone density in patients with chronic spinal cord injury?

Goktepe AS, Tugcu I, Yilmaz B, Alaca R, Gunduz S.

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, TSK Rehabilitasyon Merkezi Bilkent, Ankara, Turkey. asgoktepe@hotmail.com

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: To compare the t-scores of proximal femur and lumbar spine of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) with different levels of weight bearing. METHODS: Cross-sectional study comparing 3 groups of patients with SCI: patients with daily standing times of more than 1 hour, patients with daily standing times of less than 1 hour, and nonstanding patients. Seventy-one patients with chronic SCI were recruited. They were assigned to 1 of 3 groups according to their reported daily standing time. The bone density of lumbar and proximal femoral regions was measured with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: The 3 groups were similar in terms of demographics and clinical variables. No significant difference was found among the mean t-scores of lumbar and proximal femoral regions of the groups. However, the patients in the group that stood more than 1 hour daily had a slight tendency to have higher t-scores than those in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference among the 3 groups. However, standing might be partially helpful in protecting the bone density in SCI by opposing the effects of immobilization.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1...ubmed_RVDocSum

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/art...medid=18581668





J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact. 2007 Jan-Mar;7(1):33-47.

Skeletal responses to space flight and the bed rest analog: a review.

LeBlanc AD, Spector ER, Evans HJ, Sibonga JD.

Universities Space Research Association, Division of Space Life Sciences, Houston, TX 77058, USA. aleblanc@dsls.usra.edu

The potential for loss of bone mineral mass due to space flight was recognized by space scientists even before man's first venture into micro-gravity. Early life science studies in both the U.S. and Russian space programs attempted to measure the effects of reduced gravity on skeletal homeostasis, and these measurements have become more sophisticated with time. Bone-related measurements have typically included: bone mineral density measured by X-ray absorptiometry and more recently CT scanning; bonerelated hormones and other biochemical markers of bone turnover; and calcium excretion and balance. These measurements, conducted over the last 4 decades, have shed light on the nature of disuse bone loss and have provided preliminary information regarding bone recovery. Ground-based analog (bed rest) studies have provided information complementary to the space flight data and have allowed the testing of various countermeasures to bone loss. In spite of the wealth of knowledge obtained thus far, many questions remain regarding bone loss, bone recovery, and the factors affecting these skeletal processes. This paper will summarize the skeletal data obtained to date by the U.S. and Russian space programs and in ground-based disuse studies. In addition, related body composition data will be briefly discussed, as will possible countermeasures to space flight-induced bone loss.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17396004?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez. Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.P ubmed_Discovery_RA&linkpos=2&log$=relatedreviews&l ogdbfrom=pubmed

http://www.ismni.org/jmni/pdf/27/07LEBLANC.pdf