Standing up for long periods of times may be just as harmful as a sedentary lifestyle, according to a recent study.

Researchers found that there are health detriments associated with standing for long stretches of time is associated with short-term adverse health issues, including reports of fatigue, leg cramps and backaches, Newser reported.

According to the study, nearly half of all employees worldwide are required to stand for more than 75 percent of their workdays.

"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," researcher María Gabriela García said in a statement. "Long-term muscle fatigue caused by standing for long periods of time has not received much attention."

For the study, researchers recruited 26 people and separated them into two age groups to simulate standing work for five-hour periods, Newser reported. Participants were allowed to take brief seated rest breaks and a 30-minute lunch.

They found evidence of significant long-term fatigue following the five-hour workday, even when it included regular breaks, and that adverse symptoms persisted for at least 30 minutes following a seated recovery period, Medical Daily reported.

Researchers also found that young adults between the ages of 18 and 30 were just as likely to experience long-term fatigue as were workers over the age of 50.

"Long-term fatigue after prolonged standing work may be present without being perceived," García said. "Current work schedules for standing work may not be adequate for preventing fatigue accumulation, and this long-lasting muscle fatigue may contribute to musculoskeletal disorders and back pain."

The findings are detailed in Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.