Weddings aren’t the only hot ground for fainting spells. Military personnel standing at attention for long periods of time and choristers expected to stand through long services can faint due to locked knees, too.
Emergency medicine physician, Dr. Eric Smart told KUTV 2 News Salt Lake City, that the most common cause of fainting when you have locked knees is reduced blood flow to the brain. Standing with your knees locked consistently can also lead to poor posture because it can cause your pelvis and spine to adjust to this position.
Now that you know that standing up for too long with locked knees can make you pass out, there are a few things you can do to prevent this. Experts will tell you that eating your meals during the day, no matter how stressed or pressed for time you are, is a good way to start when it comes to preventing fainting in general. Also, drink plenty of water, especially if the wedding (or other commitment) is outdoors and you’re going to be exposed to the sun all day. As for the knees, keep them soft and slightly bent. Bent knees act as a pump to send blood back up to the brain where it’s needed, Dr. Smart explained.