Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Symptoms, Excessive Daytime Sleepiness, and Fatigue in the Crewmembers of a U.S. Navy Ship
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Authors
Shattuck, Nita Lewis
Matsangas, Panagiotis
Moore, John
Wegemann, Laura
Subjects
Musculoskeletal symptoms
Advisors
Date of Issue
2016-07
Date
July 2016
Publisher
Military Medicine
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
Objectives: We assessed the prevalence of, and association among, musculoskeletal (MSK) symptoms, reported sleep, daytime alertness, fatigue, and consumption of caffeinated beverages. Methods: Crewmembers of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier (N = 767) completed a survey pertaining to demographics, exercise frequency, sleep duration, caffeinated beverages consumption, daytime sleepiness, fatigue, and MSK symptoms occurrence. Results: Participants reported 6.12 hours of sleep per day while at sea, 31.8% reported increased daytime sleepiness, whereas 9% reported elevated fatigue levels. The 12-month prevalence of MSK symptoms was 57.5%, and the 7-day prevalence was 44.4%. Approximately 20% reported that MSK symptoms prevented them from carrying out normal activities. The lower back (39.5%) and knees (33.6%) were the two body parts most frequently reported for MSK symptoms. Symptoms in lower back, knees, and ankles/feet had an increased impact on preventing crewmembers from carrying out daily activi- ties. Symptomatic crewmembers were more likely to report elevated daytime sleepiness, increased fatigue level, shorter nighttime sleep duration, and consume more caffeinated beverages. Conclusion: MSK symptoms were frequent and frequently prevented crewmembers from carrying out their daily activities. From an occupational health perspective, interventions to optimize sleep hygiene in the naval environment should also address the impact of MSK symptoms as a confounding factor.
Type
Article
Description
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Department
Operations Research (OR)
Organization
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NPS Report Number
Sponsors
This study was funded by the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) N12, Arlington, VA, and the U.S. Navy Advanced Medical Development Program, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD.
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Citation
Shattuck, Nita Lewis, et al. "Prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms, excessive daytime sleepiness, and fatigue in the crewmembers of a US Navy ship." Military medicine 181.7 (2016): 655-662.
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This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.