ORIGINAL PAPER
Neurological symptoms and syndromes in municipal transport drivers
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1
Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera / Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland
(Przychodnia Chorób Zawodowych / Out-Patient Clinic of Occupational Diseases)
2
Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera / Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland
(Zakład Fizjologii Pracy i Ergonomii / Department of Work Physiology and Ergonomics)
3
Uniwersytet Łódzki / University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland
(Instytut Psychologii / Institute of Psychology)
4
Uniwersytet Medyczny w Łodzi / Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland
(Katedra i Klinika Neurologii / Department of Neurology)
5
Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera / Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland
(Dział Zarządzania Wiedzą / Department of Knowledge Management)
Corresponding author
Alicja Bortkiewicz
Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera,
Zakład Fizjologii Pracy i Ergonomii, ul. św. Teresy 8, 94-348 Łódź
Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2015;66(3):333-41
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ABSTRACT
Background: The way the municipal transport drivers perform their job contributes to varied burdens linked with the body
posture at work, stress, shift work, vibration, noise and exposure to chemical agents. The aim of the study was to assess the
condition of the nervous system (NS) in municipal transport drivers. Material and Methods: The study covered 42 men, aged
43.4 years (standard deviation (SD): 8.3), employed as bus drivers in the municipal transport enterprise. The duration of employment
was 11.8 years on average (SD: 8.6). The condition of the nervous system was assessed on the basis of clinical neurological
examinations. Results: Chronic lumbosacral syndrome was found in 54.8% of the subjects. A significant relationship
between the incidence of lumbosacral syndrome and the duration of employment (p = 0.032) was observed; significantly higher
in drivers employed for 11–15 years (90.9%) in comparison to the remaining groups. Nervous system functional disorders were niejedcharacterized
by the increased emotional irritability (47.6%), sleep disorders manifested by excessive sleepiness (33.3%) or insomnia
(28.6%) and headaches (3%), mostly tension headaches. Excessive daytime sleepiness was significantly age-dependent
(p = 0.038). Conclusions: The evidenced NS disorders indicate the need to undertake preventive measures tailored for the occupational
group of bus drivers. Med Pr 2015;66(3):333–341