Why do our legs tend to ache more if we are standing still than if we are walking for long periods?

You might think that standing still would be easier on your legs than walking, but the reality is a bit different. To explain why this happens, let’s start by talking about muscles and blood flow.

Muscle action

First, let’s talk about muscles. Your legs are like a team of workers. Each worker, or muscle, has a special job to do. Some are lifting, some are holding things steady, and others are moving stuff around. When you walk, these muscles take turns doing their jobs. Think of it like a relay race: One runner passes the baton to the next, and everyone gets a small break before running again.

Blood flow

Now, let’s think about blood flow. Blood is like a supply truck that brings food and takes away waste for these workers. When you walk, the blood keeps flowing easily because the muscles are contracting and relaxing, which is like sending an invitation for more trucks to come by and drop off supplies or pick up waste. This is good for the muscles.

So, what happens when you stand still for a long time?

When you stand, some of your leg muscles are constantly working to keep you upright. Imagine holding a heavy box for a long time; after a while, you would feel tired, right? It’s similar for your leg muscles; they don’t get a chance to rest like they do when you walk. It’s like asking some workers to keep holding a heavy board without putting it down. They’re going to get tired and start complaining— and that’s what you feel as aching.

Moreover, when you’re standing, the blood supply truck doesn’t get as many “invitations” to visit the leg muscles. The blood doesn’t circulate as well, which can make it harder for the muscles to get the “food” they need and for the waste to be carried away. This makes the muscles even more tired and, again, you feel that as aching or discomfort.

It’s like if you were stuck in a room doing hard work but the supply truck only comes by once in a while. You would feel pretty exhausted and unhappy, wouldn’t you?

So, in short, walking allows your leg muscles to take turns working and resting, and it also helps your blood flow better. Standing still for a long time, on the other hand, forces some muscles to work really hard without a break and makes it more difficult for the blood to do its job. That’s why you’re more likely to feel achy when you stand still for a long time compared to when you’re walking. Isn’t it fascinating how our bodies work?