| 1. |
- Heiden, Marina, et al.
(author)
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Autonomic activity, pain, and perceived health in patients on sick leave due to stress-related illnesses
- 2005
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In: Integrative Physiological & Behavioral Science. - 1053-881X .- 2168-7846. ; 40:1, s. 3-16
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare autonomic activity, pressure-pain thresholds, and subjective assessments of health and behavior between patients with stress-related illnesses and healthy control subjects. Methods: Twenty sick-listed patients with stress-related disorders and 20 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects performed tests of autonomic regulation and algometric tests, and completed questionnaires about physical and mental health and behavioral patterns. Results: Patients exhibited higher autonomic reactivity to cognitive and physical laboratory tasks (p<0.05), and had lower pressure-pain thresholds in the shoulders and lower back than healthy control subjects (p<0.05). Furthermore, the patients rated considerably poorer health and health behavior than the control subjects (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results indicate an engagement of the autonomic nervous system in stress-related illnesses. Furthermore, they show that patients with stress-related illnesses experience strong symptoms of musculoskeletal pain, and it is therefore recommended that assessments of musculoskeletal pain be incorporated in the clinical examinations and the rehabilitation of patients with stress-related illnesses.
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| 2. |
- Heiden, Marina, et al.
(author)
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Evaluation of Cognitive Behavioral Group Treatment and Physical Activity for People with Stress-related Illnesses
- 2005
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In: Second ICOH International Conference on Psychosocial Factors at Work.
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of cognitive behavioral group treatment and physical activity for patients with stress-related illnesses. Sixty patients were randomly allocated to one of three groups, so that each group contained twenty patients. Group A received cognitive behavioral group treatment, group B participated in physical activity, and group C constituted a control group thus receiving no treatment during the course of the study. Measurements of autonomic activity, pain sensitivity, and subjective health assessments were performed before and after a 10-week intervention period, consisting of two gatherings per week for the cognitive behavioral treatment group, and two exercise sessions per week for the physical activity group. Each of the two treatment groups assembled at 1.5, 3, and 6 months after the intervention, and follow-up measurements on all participants were performed at 6 and 12 months after the intervention. For comparison, measurements were performed at one occasion on healthy subjects of the same age and gender distribution as the patients. Patients exhibited higher autonomic reactivity to cognitive and physical laboratory tasks (p<0.05), had lower pressure-pain thresholds in the shoulders and lower back (p<0.05), and rated poorer health than healthy subjects (p<0.01). No overall effect of cognitive behavioral group treatment or physical activity was found on autonomic activity (p>0.06) or pressure-pain thresholds (p>0.71), although patients who received cognitive behavioral group treatment reported improved health (p<0.05). The results suggest little difference in effect of cognitive behavioral group treatment and physical activity on patients with stress-related illnesses
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| 3. |
- Heiden, Marina, et al.
(author)
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Evaluation of cognitive behavioural training and physical activity for patients with stress-related illnesses : a randomized controlled study
- 2007
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In: Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. - : Medical Journals Sweden AB. - 1650-1977 .- 1651-2081 .- 0001-5555. ; 39:5, s. 366-373
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of a cognitive behavioural training programme and a physical activity programme for patients with stress-related illnesses. DESIGN: In a randomized controlled study, patients were allocated randomly to 1 of 3 groups, where group 1 participated in a cognitive behavioural training programme, group 2 participated in a physical activity programme, and group 3, the control group, was offered usual care for the course of the study. SUBJECTS: A total of 75 patients participated in the study. They had been on sick leave for at least 50% of the time for between 1 month and 2 years due to stress-related illnesses. METHODS: Measurements of autonomic activity, pressure-pain thresholds and subjective ratings of health and behaviour were made before and after a 10-week intervention period, and at 6 and 12 months after the intervention. RESULTS: Minor differences in autonomic activity and pressure-pain thresholds were found between the groups immediately after the intervention. At the 6- and 12-month follow-up assessments, the differences were no longer present. Patients in the cognitive behavioural training group improved their ratings of general health compared with the physical activity group throughout the study. CONCLUSION: The study showed little difference in the effect of cognitive behavioural training and physical activity, compared with usual care, for patients with stress-related illnesses.
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| 4. |
- Kalezic, Nebojsa, et al.
(author)
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Cardiovascular and muscle activity during chewing in whiplash-associated disorders (WAD)
- 2010
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In: Archives of Oral Biology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0003-9969 .- 1879-1506. ; 55:6, s. 447-453
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective. The present study aimed to elucidate possible physiological mechanisms behind impaired endurance during chewing as previously reported in WAD. We tested the hypothesis of a stronger autonomic reaction in WAD than in healthy subjects in response to dynamic loading of the jaw-neck motor system. Design. Cardiovascular reactivity, muscle fatigue indicies of EMG, and perceptions of fatigue, exhaustion and pain were assessed during standardised chewing. Twenty-one WAD subjects and a gender/age matched control group participated. Baseline recordings were followed by two sessions of alternating unilateral chewing of a bolus of gum with each session followed by a rest period. Results. More than half of the WAD subjects terminated the test prematurely due to exhaustion and pain. In line with our hypothesis the chewing evoked an increased autonomic response in WAD exhibited as a higher increase in heart rate as compared to controls. Furthermore, we saw consistently higher values of arterial blood pressure for WAD than for controls across all stages of the experiment. Masseter EMG did not indicate muscle fatigue nor were there group differences in amplitude and mean power frequency. Pain in the WAD group increased during the first session and remained increased, whereas no pain was reported for the controls. Conclusion. More intense response to chewing in WAD might indicate pronounced vulnerability to dynamic loading of the jaw-neck motor system with increased autonomic reactivity to the test. Premature termination and autonomic involvement without EMG signs of muscle fatigue may indicate central mechanisms behind insufficient endurance during chewing.
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| 7. |
- Nakata, Minori, et al.
(author)
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Evaluation of workload in ambulance personnel - A preliminary study
- 2002
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In: Humans in a Complex Environment. - 9173734438
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Musculotendinous tenderness was evaluated in ambulance personnel, and their working load was studied by means of biomechanical analysis of the standard loading and unloading the `stretcher+patient' in and from the vehicle. Swedish and Japanese subjects were tested. The medical examination demonstrated increased tenderness of selected muscles active in work related movement tasks, as well as in spinous processes in both populations. However, a number ofparticular tests suggested higher Ievel of tenderness in the Swedish, as compared with the Japanese personnel. Biomechanical analysis of working tasks demonstrated similar forces, but higher LS-SI, hip and shoulder torques acting in Swedish personnel. This difference appears to be caused by the differences in stretcher construction. Specifically, the Swedish stretcher requires separate lifting of each stretcher side starting from a squat body position, while the Japanese system requires only pushing the stretcher in and pulling it out from the vehicle. We conclude that differences in working technique imposed by available working equipment could contribute to the observed differences in muscle tenderness especially around the shoulders between the two tested populations. However, further studies are needed to elaborate working load and muscle activity while performing standard tasks of ambulance personnel, as well as to explore other possible causes of increased musculotendinous tenderness. Keywords: Ambulance, Muculoskeletal disorders, Muscle tenderness, Spinous process, Biomechanical analyses
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| 8. |
- Nakata, Minori, et al.
(author)
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Solving tangled cases of work-related musculoskeletal disorders by international scientific cooperation.
- 2005
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In: NEW SOLUTIONS. - 1048-2911 .- 1541-3772. ; 15:4, s. 343-56
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) have become a serious worldwide problem. At the same time a number of workers experience a problem in getting their WRMSDs acknowledged. As an attempt to solve these problems, Japanese school lunch cooks' working conditions were discussed at international scientific meetings and a detailed inspection was done at a Japanese school kitchen by Swedish researchers. It revealed that both national and international researchers' opinions coincided. Statements of medical views were written for several tangled cases in Japan and Sweden referring to both the national and international literature. As a result, these tangled cases were acknowledged officially as WRMSDs. New arbitrators and mediators of WRMSDs are required who can understand and communicate between the world of medical and labor sciences and also between the world of science and daily work life.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Okada, Naoki, et al.
(author)
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Occupational stress among Japanese emergency medical technicians : Hyogo Prefecture.
- 2005
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In: Prehospital and disaster medicine: the official journal of the National Association of EMS Physicians and the World Association for Emergency and Disaster Medicine in association with the Acute Care Foundation. - 1049-023X. ; 20:2, s. 115-21
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- INTRODUCTION: As prehospital care became emphasized in emergency medical services in Japan, qualification as a "paramedic" was established in 1991 as a requirement for national qualification as a emergency medical technician (EMT). With recent increases in emergency transportation, the responsibilities of paramedics have become more complex and demand a higher level of competency; however, no method of evaluating occupational stress among Japanese EMTs currently exists. METHODS: A questionnaire survey of the working conditions and health of 2,017 EMTs in Hyogo Prefecture was conducted. To analyze stress levels among these EMTs, the survey was divided into two categories: (1) physical stress; and (2) mental stress. RESULTS: The number of responses was 1,551 (76.9%) and the average age of the respondents was 35.4 years. The lower back, neck, and shoulders were most frequently subjected to physical stress, which was related to the daily operations as an EMT. Mental stress was reported more frequently by those who were older or qualified paramedics. DISCUSSION: The high frequency of lower back pain suggests the need for improvement in the work environment and periodic education. CONCLUSIONS: Although job satisfaction among paramedics was high, they were exposed to greater mental stress. Therefore, systematic management of stress must be developed and established.
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