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Autonomic and peripheral nervous system dysfunction in workers exposed to hand-arm vibration: a study of R-R interval variability and distribution of nerve conduction velocities
- Source :
- International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health. 63:205-211
- Publication Year :
- 1991
- Publisher :
- Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 1991.
-
Abstract
- To assess the effects of vibrating-tool operation on the autonomic and peripheral nervous system, we measured the variability in the electrocardiographic R-R interval (CVRR) and the distribution of nerve conduction velocities (DCV) in 24 men who were vibrating-tool operators and in 17 healthy adult men (control group). Of the 24 tool operators, 13 had a history of vibration-induced white finger [VWF(+) group] and 11 had no such history [VWF(−) group]. Two components of CVRR, i.e. C-CVRSA and C-CVMWSA, which have been considered to reflect parasympathetic and sympathetic activities, respectively, were also examined. Both the CVRR and the C-CVRSA in the VWF(+) group and the CVRR in the VWF(−) group were found to be significantly depressed as compared with the control values; moreover, a significant difference in the C-CVRSA was observed between the VWF(+) group and the VWF(−) group. The faster DCVs and the sensory median nerve conduction velocity were significantly slowed in the VWF (+) and VWF(−) groups. The C-CVMWSA was significantly correlated with most of the DCV parameters and with the median nerve conduction velocities in all 24 vibrating-tool operators. These data suggest that operation of vibrating tools, which involves exposure to combined stressors of local vibration, heavy work, climate, and noise, affects both the faster myelinated nerve-fiber activity and the parasympathetic activity; the sympathetic activity at rest in workers exposed to hand-arm vibration may be related to depression of peripheral nerve conduction.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Neural Conduction
Vibration
Nerve conduction velocity
Electrocardiography
Occupational Exposure
Internal medicine
medicine
Humans
Distribution (pharmacology)
Analysis of Variance
business.industry
Significant difference
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Peripheral Nervous System Diseases
Anatomy
Middle Aged
Hand
Median nerve
R-R Interval
Electrophysiology
Occupational Diseases
medicine.anatomical_structure
Peripheral nervous system
Arm
Cardiology
Nerve conduction
business
Hand arm
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14321246 and 03400131
- Volume :
- 63
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....9bcd25fbede28b2f1da0272f69adac64