Like sitting, standing in the workplace may have long-term health consequences

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-07/hfae-lss071315.php

Public Release: 13-Jul-2015
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society

Recent research has warned of the health detriments associated with sitting for long stretches of time at the office, but what about the nearly half of all employees worldwide who are required to stand for more than 75% of their workdays? Prolonged standing is associated with short-term adverse health issues, including reports of fatigue, leg cramps, and backaches, which can affect job performance and cause significant discomfort. A new study published in Human Factors suggests that, over time, this type of sustained muscle fatigue can result in serious health consequences.

"The work-related musculoskeletal implications that can be caused by prolonged standing are a burden not only for workers but also for companies and society," notes María Gabriela García, a PhD candidate in the Department of Health Sciences and Technology at ETH Zürich. "Long-term muscle fatigue caused by standing for long periods of time has not received much attention."

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