The effects of booster breaks during a sedentary night shift on physiological, psychomotor, psycho-physiological, and cognitive performance over a 3 night shift habituation phase
- Authors: Lombard, Wesley Ross
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Night work , Shift systems , Performance , Exercise , Exercise -- Physiological aspects , Exercise -- Psychological aspects , Cognition -- Effect of exercise on , Motor ability
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5116 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005194 , Night work , Shift systems , Performance , Exercise , Exercise -- Physiological aspects , Exercise -- Psychological aspects , Cognition -- Effect of exercise on , Motor ability
- Description: Despite extensive research into shift work, workers working under rotating shift conditions are still plagued by the effects of the desynchronisation resulting from working against their natural circadian rhythms. Additionally, modern industries are shifting towards tasks requiring greater cognitive demand with less manual labour incorporated into the tasks. Research into operator based tasks, and hence those of a sedentary cognitive base both during day and night shifts, has been focusing on the effectiveness of the standard rest/break schedule. Research indicating that the standard rest break schedule is often ineffective in eliminating operator discomfort and performance deterioration, with these affects argued to be more pronounced during a night shift schedule. Therefore current research set out to investigate alternative rest break schedules, incorporating a short bout of physical activity and stretching exercises which are proposed to enhance performance and subjective mood, while eliminating operator discomfort for sedentary based cognitive tasks. Three conditions were tested during a three day habituation shift cycle within a laboratory, incorporating two night shift groups (control and experimental) and a control day shift group. Twelve subjects made up each group, with the two night shift groups completing the shift schedule together. The control groups followed a typical 8 hour shift schedule while the experimental group performed a booster break (exercise and stretches) activity for 7.5 minutes every hour during the night shift schedule. Over the course of the shift, subjects completed a battery of six tests providing data on physiological measurements (heart rate and temperature), performance criteria (reaction time responses, memory and neurobiological) and subjective measures. Responses obtained for all the different parameters measured indicated a strong circadian influence for the majority of the variables, indicating the course of natural down regulation within physiological and performance criteria over the night shift. The booster break significantly improved reaction time performance, subjective ratings and resulted in a high sustainable activity level. Day shift comparisons indicating that within subjective measures and reaction time performance, the booster break resulted in similar responses to those of the day shift workers, while the control night shift groups reported significantly lowers results. Additionally, the booster break had positive influences during the circadian nadir, significantly improving parameters of performance and subjective ratings of sleepiness. The results of this study indicating which variables are strong predictors and indicators of the oscillations in performance and subjective ratings due to the circadian changes. The booster break interventions had positive effects on subjective ratings and reaction time performance, while also being argued to decrease the burden placed on the cardiac system as a result of increased sympathetic tone during the night shift, while additionally resulting in similar responses to those of day shift workers. Further studies are required, however, to provide conclusive evidence particularly within a working situation over a longer shift schedule.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Lombard, Wesley Ross
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Night work , Shift systems , Performance , Exercise , Exercise -- Physiological aspects , Exercise -- Psychological aspects , Cognition -- Effect of exercise on , Motor ability
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5116 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005194 , Night work , Shift systems , Performance , Exercise , Exercise -- Physiological aspects , Exercise -- Psychological aspects , Cognition -- Effect of exercise on , Motor ability
- Description: Despite extensive research into shift work, workers working under rotating shift conditions are still plagued by the effects of the desynchronisation resulting from working against their natural circadian rhythms. Additionally, modern industries are shifting towards tasks requiring greater cognitive demand with less manual labour incorporated into the tasks. Research into operator based tasks, and hence those of a sedentary cognitive base both during day and night shifts, has been focusing on the effectiveness of the standard rest/break schedule. Research indicating that the standard rest break schedule is often ineffective in eliminating operator discomfort and performance deterioration, with these affects argued to be more pronounced during a night shift schedule. Therefore current research set out to investigate alternative rest break schedules, incorporating a short bout of physical activity and stretching exercises which are proposed to enhance performance and subjective mood, while eliminating operator discomfort for sedentary based cognitive tasks. Three conditions were tested during a three day habituation shift cycle within a laboratory, incorporating two night shift groups (control and experimental) and a control day shift group. Twelve subjects made up each group, with the two night shift groups completing the shift schedule together. The control groups followed a typical 8 hour shift schedule while the experimental group performed a booster break (exercise and stretches) activity for 7.5 minutes every hour during the night shift schedule. Over the course of the shift, subjects completed a battery of six tests providing data on physiological measurements (heart rate and temperature), performance criteria (reaction time responses, memory and neurobiological) and subjective measures. Responses obtained for all the different parameters measured indicated a strong circadian influence for the majority of the variables, indicating the course of natural down regulation within physiological and performance criteria over the night shift. The booster break significantly improved reaction time performance, subjective ratings and resulted in a high sustainable activity level. Day shift comparisons indicating that within subjective measures and reaction time performance, the booster break resulted in similar responses to those of the day shift workers, while the control night shift groups reported significantly lowers results. Additionally, the booster break had positive influences during the circadian nadir, significantly improving parameters of performance and subjective ratings of sleepiness. The results of this study indicating which variables are strong predictors and indicators of the oscillations in performance and subjective ratings due to the circadian changes. The booster break interventions had positive effects on subjective ratings and reaction time performance, while also being argued to decrease the burden placed on the cardiac system as a result of increased sympathetic tone during the night shift, while additionally resulting in similar responses to those of day shift workers. Further studies are required, however, to provide conclusive evidence particularly within a working situation over a longer shift schedule.
- Full Text:
Physiological, perceptual and other performance decrements in combat related tasks following prolonged heavy-load marching
- Authors: Clark, Lisa Anne
- Date: 2000
- Subjects: Performance -- Psychological aspects , Performance standards -- Case studies , Exercise -- Physiological aspects , Exercise -- Psychological aspects , Marching -- Physiological aspects , Soldiers -- Job stress
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5130 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005209 , Performance -- Psychological aspects , Performance standards -- Case studies , Exercise -- Physiological aspects , Exercise -- Psychological aspects , Marching -- Physiological aspects , Soldiers -- Job stress
- Description: In response to challenging situations physiological and psychological adaptations result in elevated levels of arousal and when these levels are 'optimal' performance is enhanced. There are however, limitations to the amount of physiological and mental stimulation one can tolerate, with cumulative fatigue effects being the outcome when stressful conditions are imposed on the individual over an extended period of time. As a result of the extreme physical and cognitive demands placed on military forces while in combat, with soldiers being thrust into battle and required to make critical life-or-death determining decisions followed by appropriate motor responses, the physical and psychological capabilities of the troops are pushed to maximal limits, often resulting in undesirable decrements in physical and mental performance, with consequential human and materiel losses. Thirty-two soldiers participated in a battery of combat-related field and laboratory tests, first under 'normal' conditions with no prior physical activity and then immediately after the participation of an intensive bout of exercise. Physiological and perceptual responses plus standard of performance were measured at various stages of testing. Results of the Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE), Body Discomfort Scale and heart rate responses revealed significantly higher levels of psychophysical strai,n in response to the strenuous physical activity. Despite these findings, the electromyographic (EMG) activity and efficiency of the combat-related skills were not negatively affected. Rather, nominal improvements in post-activity performance were noted, specifically response time, and this was attributed to elevated arousal and activation as a result of the exercise that was of sufficient duration to enhance arousal without imposing long term cumulative fatigue effects.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Clark, Lisa Anne
- Date: 2000
- Subjects: Performance -- Psychological aspects , Performance standards -- Case studies , Exercise -- Physiological aspects , Exercise -- Psychological aspects , Marching -- Physiological aspects , Soldiers -- Job stress
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5130 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005209 , Performance -- Psychological aspects , Performance standards -- Case studies , Exercise -- Physiological aspects , Exercise -- Psychological aspects , Marching -- Physiological aspects , Soldiers -- Job stress
- Description: In response to challenging situations physiological and psychological adaptations result in elevated levels of arousal and when these levels are 'optimal' performance is enhanced. There are however, limitations to the amount of physiological and mental stimulation one can tolerate, with cumulative fatigue effects being the outcome when stressful conditions are imposed on the individual over an extended period of time. As a result of the extreme physical and cognitive demands placed on military forces while in combat, with soldiers being thrust into battle and required to make critical life-or-death determining decisions followed by appropriate motor responses, the physical and psychological capabilities of the troops are pushed to maximal limits, often resulting in undesirable decrements in physical and mental performance, with consequential human and materiel losses. Thirty-two soldiers participated in a battery of combat-related field and laboratory tests, first under 'normal' conditions with no prior physical activity and then immediately after the participation of an intensive bout of exercise. Physiological and perceptual responses plus standard of performance were measured at various stages of testing. Results of the Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE), Body Discomfort Scale and heart rate responses revealed significantly higher levels of psychophysical strai,n in response to the strenuous physical activity. Despite these findings, the electromyographic (EMG) activity and efficiency of the combat-related skills were not negatively affected. Rather, nominal improvements in post-activity performance were noted, specifically response time, and this was attributed to elevated arousal and activation as a result of the exercise that was of sufficient duration to enhance arousal without imposing long term cumulative fatigue effects.
- Full Text:
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