Exercise Library

Wall Sit

Lower Bodyisolation·desk-friendly

45

/100

low (0.44)
Decision Guide

Best when...

  • You need something you can do near your desk without much setup.
  • Your energy is dipping and you want a more activating break.
  • You only have about a minute between tasks or meetings.

Not ideal when...

  • You want a nearly effortless reset that will not elevate breathing much.

Pairs well with...

a chest-opening or shoulder reset after long sitting

Better than X when...

Longer break routines when you only have 60 seconds and need immediate value.

Office-clothes alternative

Sit-to-Stand or Wall Push-Up are easy alternatives when you want something even more office-friendly.

Movement Profile
Muscular Demand
34derived

Targets quadriceps, gluteals, erector spinae

Metabolic Cost
57derived

MET 3.3 (derived), 0.9x walking

Mobility Value
19modeled

Joint ROM: 10%, posture benefit: 30%

Desk Practicality
65modeled

Can be performed at or near a desk

Muscle Activations

quadriceps

70%derived

gluteals

35%modeled

erector spinae

20%modeled
Energy Estimate
~2kcal

for 1 reps · roughly 0.5 min of brisk walking for a 70 kg person

Score by Rep Count

45

5 reps

45

10 reps

45

15 reps

45

20 reps

45

30 reps

Wall Sit scores 45/100, strongest in desk practicality. Suitable for a desk break.

Caveats
  • Metabolic cost varies with body weight and fitness level
  • mobility value, desk practicality are estimated, not directly measured
  • Limited research data for this exercise
  • Study populations may not represent sedentary desk workers
Data Provenance

Measured (0)

    Derived (3)

    • MET value
    • quadriceps activation
    • caloric expenditure

    Modeled (5)

    • gluteals activation
    • erector spinae activation
    • joint ROM
    • posture correction
    • desk practicality
    References

    Estimating energy expenditure during bodyweight resistance exercise

    Journal of Sports Sciences (2019)

    MET values specific to bodyweight resistance exercises at various intensities