Lengthy standing at work can lead to long-term muscle fatigue: study

Zurich, Switzerland – Lengthy standing at work results in long-term muscle fatigue that could contribute to health disorders – even with regular rest – in both young and old workers, indicates a study from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (also known as ETH Zurich).

Researchers studied 14 men and 12 women – split into age groups of 18 to 30 and older than 50 – during simulated five-hour workdays that included five-minute seated breaks and a 30-minute lunch. The researchers calculated muscle fatigue through “electrically induced muscle twitches, postural stability and subjective evaluation of discomfort,” according to the study abstract.

They found “significant fatigue effect” that lasted more than 30 minutes after the work shift. Participants felt more tired immediately after standing work, but that feeling did not continue after 30 minutes of rest after work.

Gender and age did not affect fatigue, according to a press release.

Work that requires lengthy standing likely will lead to leg or back disorders, researchers concluded.

The study was published June 5 in the journal Human Factors.