Impact of driving duration on hand muscle strength in people who commute for work

Authors

  • Latha Sannasi Department of Physiology, Chettinad Hospital and Research Instituite, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20195075

Keywords:

Muscle power, Hand grip dynamometer, Isometric tension, Commute, BMI, Car drive

Abstract

Background: Urbanization has brought a lot of health issues in the citizens. Commuting for work has become more common. People around the world use different means of commute like public transport or driving a car to work. The increase in time of commute may be associated with many health hazards. In this study we try to study the impact of driving duration on hand muscle power.

Methods: A prospective cross sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital. About 32 persons who drive car for their work participated in this study after giving their consent. Subjects grouped in to two categories long commuters, who drive for greater or equal to one hour and short commuters less than one hour. Muscle power tested on two occasions immediately after driving and four hour after driving with a help of hand grip dynamometer. Demographic details were collected. The two groups compared for muscle power and body mass index (BMI).

Results: The long commuters had less muscle power in comparison with short commuters and it was significant. The average BMI of long commuters was in obesity range were as the average BMI of short commuter is less and it was statistically significant.

Conclusions: Driving for greater than one hour is associated with obesity and reduced muscle power immediately after driving.

 

Author Biography

Latha Sannasi, Department of Physiology, Chettinad Hospital and Research Instituite, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu

Deparatment of physiology.Assistant Professor.

References

Costa G, Pickup L, Di Martino V. Commuting-a further stress factor for working people: evidence from the European Community. I. A review. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1988;60(5):371-6.

Millett C, Agrawal S, Sullivan R, Vaz M, Kurpad A, Bharathi AV, et al. Associations between active travel to work and overweight, hypertension, and diabetes in India: a cross-sectional study. Plos Med. 2013;10(6):e1001459 .

Kageyama T, Nishikido N, Kobayashi T, Kurokawa Y, Kaneko T, Kabuto M. Long commuting time, extensive overtime, and sympathodominant state assessed in terms of short-term heart rate variability among male white-collar workers in the Tokyo megalopolis. Ind Health. 1998;36(3):209-17.

Evans GW, Wener RE. Rail commuting duration and passenger stress. Health Psychol. 2006;25(3):408-12.

Braganca RD, Ravetti CG, Barreto L, Ataide TBLS, Carneiro RM, Teixeira AL, et al. Use of handgrip dynamometry for diagnosis and prognosis assessment of intensive care unit acquired weakness: a prospective study. Heart Lung. 2019;S0147-9563(19)30083-4.

Ding D, Gebel K, Phongsavan P, Bauman AE, Merom D. Driving: a road to unhealthy lifestyles and poor health outcomes. Plos One. 2014;9(6):e94602.

Bauer CM, Rast FM, Ernst MJ, Meichtry A, Kool J, Rissanen SM, et al. The effect of muscle fatigue and low back pain on lumbar movement variability and complexity. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2017;33:94-102.

Forestier N, Nougier V. The effects of muscular fatigue on the coordination of a multijoint movement in human. Neurosci Lett. 1998;252(3):187-90.

Liang H, Wu W, Wang S, Yu H, Hou S, He L, et al. A monitoring study of electromyography median frequency on fatigue of erector spinalis in drivers working at high altitude. Zhonghua Lao Dong Wei Sheng Zhi Ye Bing Za Zhi. 2002;20(6):461-3.

Gorelick M, Brown JMM, Groeller H. Short-duration fatigue alters neuromuscular coordination of trunk musculature: implications for injury. Appl Ergon. 2003;34(4):317-25.

Paschalis V, Giakas G, Baltzopoulos V, Jamurtas AZ, Theoharis V, Kotzamanidis C, et al. The effects of muscle damage following eccentric exercise on gait biomechanics. Gait Posture. 2007;25(2):236-42.

Wen LM, Orr N, Millett C, Rissel C. Driving to work and overweight and obesity: findings from the 2003 New South Wales Health Survey, Australia. Int J Obes (Lond). 2006;30(5):782-6.

Swanson KC, McCormack GR. The relations between driving behavior, physical activity and weight status among Canadian adults. J Phys Act Health. 2012;9(3):352-9.

McCormack GR, Virk JS. Driving towards obesity: a systematized literature review on the association between motor vehicle travel time and distance and weight status in adults. Prev Med (Baltim). 2014;66:49-55.

Sugiyama T, Wijndaele K, Koohsari MJ, Tanamas SK, Dunstan DW, Owen N. Adverse associations of car time with markers of cardio-metabolic risk. Prev Med (Baltim). 2016;83:26-30.

Sugiyama T, Ding D, Owen N. Commuting by car: weight gain among physically active adults. Am J Prev Med. 2013;44(2):169-73.

Nakano H, Inoue S. Quantity of physical exercise expended during commuting by office workers residing in the Greater Tokyo area. Sangyo Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2010;52(3):133-9.

Callegari B, de Resende MM, da Silva Filho M. Hand rest and wrist support are effective in preventing fatigue during prolonged typing. J Hand Ther. 2018;31(1):42-51.

Downloads

Published

2019-10-24

How to Cite

Sannasi, L. (2019). Impact of driving duration on hand muscle strength in people who commute for work. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 6(11), 4892–4895. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20195075

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles