Can postural control performance be an indicator of truck drivers' sleep deprivation?

Abstract

Long-haul drivers work in irregular schedules due to load delivery demands. In general, driving and sleeping occur at irregular times and, consequently, partial sleep deprivation and/or circadian misalignment may emerge and result in sleepiness at the wheel. In this way, the aim of this study was to verify changes in the postural control parameters of professional drivers after one-night working. Eight male truck drivers working at night - night drivers (ND) and nine day drivers (DD) volunteered to participate in this study. The night drivers' postural stability was assessed immediately before and after an approximately 430 km journey by two identical force platforms at departure and arrival sites. The DD group was measured before and after a day's work. An interaction effect of time of day and type of shift in both conditions: eyes open (p < 0.01) and eyes closed (p < 0.001) for amplitude of mediolateral movements was observed. Postural stability, measured by force platform, is affected by a night of work, suggesting that it could be an effect of circadian and homeostatic influences over postural control.