The effect of selected rest break activities on reaction time, balance, and perceived discomfort after one hour of simulated occupational whole-body vibration exposure in healthy adults

Abstract

Background & Objective: Negative health effects from occupational whole-body vibration (WBV) exposure during machinery operation include alterations in proprioception, vestibular function, reaction time, stress, motor response, and decrements in musculoskeletal health. To reduce WBV exposure during machinery operation, it may be possible to incorporate short rest break activities throughout the day. This study aims to determine if there are intervention activities that can minimize decrements in cognitive, proprioceptive, and musculoskeletal effects related to WBV exposure during machine operation.

Materials & Methods

Eleven healthy adults participated in four 1-hour sessions of ecologically valid WBV exposure followed by one of four 5-minute activities: sitting, walking, 2 min of gaze stabilization exercise (GSE) coupled with 3 min of trunk mobility exercise (GSE + MOBIL), or 2 min of GSE coupled with a 3-minute walk (GSE + WALK). Baseline and post-activity measurements (rating of perceived discomfort, balance and postural sway measurements, 5-minute psychomotor vigilance task test) were submitted to a paired t-test to determine the effect of WBV exposure and activities on physical, cognitive, and sensorimotor systems and to a repeated measures ANOVA to determine any differences across activities.

Results

We observed degradation of the slowest 10% reaction speed outcomes between baseline and post-activity after walking (7.3%, p < 0.05) and sitting (8.6%, p < 0.05) but not after GSE + MOBIL or GSE + WALK activities. Slowest 10% reaction speed after GSE + MOBIL activity was faster than all other activities. The rating of perceived discomfort was higher after SIT and WALK activities. There were no notable differences in balance outcomes.

Conclusion

When compared to sitting for 5 min, an activity including GSE and an active component, such as walking or trunk mobility exercises, resulted in maintenance of reaction time after WBV exposure. If confirmed in occupational environments, GSE may provide a simple, rapid, effective, and inexpensive means to protect against decrements in reaction time after WBV exposure.

KEY MESSAGES

1. A 5-minute intervention activity after 1 hour of occupational whole-body vibration (WBV) exposure may provide protection against detriments in reaction time.

2. Intervention activities that include a gaze stabilization exercise component maintained the slowest reaction speeds after 1 hour of WBV exposure, whereas sitting and walking activities resulted in a further slowing of the slowest reaction speeds.

3. It may be possible for machinery operators to incorporate gaze stabilization activities in occupational environments, either in or out-of-cab, but further evaluation for feasibility and practicality of in-field adoption is required.

Keywords:

• Whole-body vibration
• occupational exposure
• accident prevention
• ergonomics
• laboratory simulation
• reaction time

Author contributions

All authors participated in drafting and reviewing the manuscript for publication and provided final approval of the submitted version. WDB, CT, and SM conceived and designed the study. WBD, MT, UO, and SM acquired, analyzed and interpreted the data.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability

Data is available upon request by contacting the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Agrivita Canada, Mitacs Accelerate, University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine Research Award, University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine MPT Research Project Funding, and WorkSafe BC Ralph McGinn Postdoctoral Fellowship. The funding sources had no involvement in study design, data collection, analysis and interpretation of data, writing the manuscript, and the decision to submit the article for publication.