Health Risks Associated with Standing Will Floor You

For people who work in manufacturing, hospitals, retail, food service or any other type of positions that require standing during the majority of their day, anti-fatigue floor mats can help prevent injury and provide much needed comfort.  Anti-fatigue floor mats are ergonomic padded mats designed to reduce the impact and pressure on the human body from standing. Did you know that standing for even 90 minutes can cause serious discomfort to your feet, legs and back, as well as cause stiffness to your neck and shoulders? Some studies have even gone a step further and found that standing for periods longer than 90 minutes can result in serious health conditions such as circulatory problems that can be irreversible.(1)

When a person stands in place for a long period of time leg muscles become static and constricted limiting blood flow and causing fatigue. Fatigue over a period of weeks can often lead to pain and a loss in productivity. Standing on an anti-fatigue mat opposed to a hard surface, forces a person’s leg muscles to make faint but constant movements that counteract the instability of the cushioned mat. These imperceptible movements maintain blood flow circulation and promote an ergonomic workspace. Anti-fatigue mats have been shown to reduce the level of fatigue and discomfort by as much as 50%!1  Anti-fatigue mats can also create increased productivity, promote good posture, prevent joint stiffness, reduce occurrence of headaches, reduce lower back pain, reduce the risk of slips or falls and help reduce damage to materials or flooring.

Combatting the Effects of Static Standing

Armacell’s EnsoLite® elastomeric component foam products provide manufacturers of commercial and residential anti-fatigue mats a solution for end-use applications where both anti-fatigue and static prevention characteristics are required. This level of performance is vital in applications where electrostatic discharge could harm sensitive electronic equipment or surrounding areas. EnsoLite foam also offers various levels of firmness that are in the ideal range for anti-fatigue mats and to provide even more options, EnsoLite has the capability of potentially including electrostatic dissipative (ESD) components so that it can be classified as electrostatic dissipative (ESD) per ANSI/ESD S 7.1-2005.

Our long lasting closed-cell, vinyl nitrile rubber blend foam material is durable, does not absorb liquids, is highly resistant to chemicals and wipes clean easily with conventional detergents. Our EnsoLite line of products are also customizable with several available embossing or beveled edges options, as well as an anti-microbial additives option for increased mold resistance. For more information on Armacell’s EnsoLite family products, please visit our Component Foams Data Sheets at www.armacell.us/knowledge-center/document-downloads/component-foam/.

1. https://www.ehstoday.com/health/new-study-confirms-benefits-anti-fatigue-mats-0