[Neurological symptoms and syndromes in municipal transport drivers].
BACKGROUND
The way the municipal transport drivers perform their job contributes to varied burdens linked with the body posture at work, stress, shift work, vibration, noise and exposure to chemical agents. The aim of the study was to assess the condition of the nervous system (NS) in municipal transport drivers.


METHODS
The study covered 42 men, aged 43.4 years (standard deviation (SD): 8.3), employed as bus drivers in the municipal transport enterprise. The duration of employment was 11.8 years on average (SD: 8.6). The condition of the nervous system was assessed on the basis of clinical neurological examinations.


RESULTS
Chronic lumbosacral syndrome was found in 54.8% of the subjects. A significant relationship between the incidence of lumbosacral syndrome and the duration of employment (p=0.032) was observed; significantly higher in drivers employed for 11-15 years (90.9%) in comparison to the remaining groups. Nervous system functional disorders were characterized by the increased emotional irritability (47.6%), sleep disorders manifested by excessive sleepiness (33.3%) or insomnia (28.6%) and headaches (3%), mostly tension headaches. Excessive daytime sleepiness was significantly age-dependent (p=0.038).


CONCLUSIONS
The evidenced NS disorders indicate the need to undertake preventive measures tailored for the occupational group of bus drivers.
Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera / Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Przychodnia Chorób Zawodowych / Out-Patient Clinic of Occupational Diseases).
Halina
H
Sińczuk-Walczak
Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera / Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Zakład Fizjologii Pracy i Ergonomii / Department of Work Physiology and Ergonomics).
Jadwiga
J
Siedlecka
Uniwersytet Łódzki / University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland (Instytut Psychologii / Institute of Psychology).
Wiesław
W
Szymczak
Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera / Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Zakład Fizjologii Pracy i Ergonomii / Department of Work Physiology and Ergonomics).
Elżbieta
E
Gadzicka
Uniwersytet Medyczny w Łodzi / Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland (Katedra i Klinika Neurologii / Department of Neurology).
Agata
A
Walczak
Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera / Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Dział Zarządzania Wiedzą / Department of Knowledge Management).
Grażyna
G
Kowalczyk
Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera / Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Zakład Fizjologii Pracy i Ergonomii / Department of Work Physiology and Ergonomics).
Marta
M
Dania
Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera / Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Zakład Fizjologii Pracy i Ergonomii / Department of Work Physiology and Ergonomics). alab@imp.lodz.pl.
Alicja
A
Bortkiewicz
D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D014186:Transportation; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014937:Work; D055815:Young Adult
chronic lumbosacral syndromes; headache; municipal bus drivers; neurological symptoms; work environment