The Impact of Repeated Bouts of Shiftwork on Rapid Strength and Reaction Time in Career Firefighters

Details

• Personal Author:
  Gerstner GR ; Giuliani HK ; Mota JA ; Ryan ED ; Shea NW ; Weaver MK
• Description:
  The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of repeated bouts of shiftwork on lower extremity maximal and rapid strength and reaction time in career firefighters. Thirty-five firefighters (3 females; 34.3 +/- 9.1 years) performed a psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) and reactive maximal isometric strength assessment prior to and following a full shift rotation (three 24-hr on-off shifts). Reaction time (RT), maximal, absolute and normalised rapid strength (50, 100, 150, 200 ms), and PVT measures were assessed on-site. Separate linear regression models were used to evaluate the POST-PRE change in variables adjusted for BMI, age, sleep, and call duration. Early (50 ms) absolute rapid strength was the only variable significantly reduced (-25.9%; p = 0.031) following the full shift rotation. Our findings indicate that early rapid strength may be a sensitive measure in detecting work-related fatigue, despite minimal changes in sleep between work and non-work nights and a low call duration. Practitioner summary: We examined the impact of repeated shiftwork on changes in reaction time and neuromuscular function. Early rapid strength was a sensitive, portable lab assessment that feasibly measured work-related fatigue in career firefighters. Interventions that mitigate work-related fatigue may be impactful at preventing falls and/or risk of musculoskeletal injury. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Fatigue Firefighters Occupational Health Safety Shift Work Schedule
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Occupational Health Explosive Force Fire Fighters Neuromuscular Function Psychomotor Function Reaction Rates Shift Work Work-related Fatigue Work Schedules
• ISSN:
  0014-0139
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Alabama ; North Carolina ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4 ; Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  65
• Issue:
  8
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20067979
• Citation:
  Ergonomics 2022 Aug; 65(8):1086-1094
• Contact Point Address:
  Eric D. Ryan, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, Adjunct Associate Professor Allied Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 209 Fetzer Hall, CB #8700; Chapel Hill, NC 27599-8700, USA
• Email:
  edryan@email.unc.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2022
• Performing Organization:
  University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Ergonomics
• End Date:
  20270630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:adc65bbdecf7eda2eaf8f4d74131f88eb29d5e4041c9a99a1469d8603b6619cc8b20f3f8dcce2b528622e9c6bba9e17c3793e24f0910aa69ab7f52c803097399
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/230211/cdc_230211_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.33 MB ]