Effect of sleep deprivation on physical performance in workers

Background and Objective: Compromised sleep quantity and quality are associated with increased injury risk among shift workers. While research shows high rates of injuries and falls in agriculture, it is not clear how much sleep deprivation contribute to these injuries. In this study, we addressed this knowledge gap by quantifying the association of sleep and balance stability, which is likely a contributing factor to fall injuries. Methods: We recruited four adults, on average 44 years of age. All participants completed two types of balance testing for 10 seconds: 1) standing on both feet with eyes open and closed; 2) standing on one leg with eyes open and closed. Balance stability was measured using in-sole pressure sensing system, and calculating the displacement of center of pressure (CoP) of the foot. Results: The postural sway was strongly negatively correlated with the sleeping hours. As the number of sleeping hours decreased, postural sway increased, indicated by an increase in the total path length of the CoP and the maximum range of CoP in the anteroposterior direction under foot. In addition, shorter sleeping hours also increased the variability of measurement. Conclusion: These pilot results suggest that reduced sleep impacts balance stability which may lead to falls. To reduce the public health burden associated with fall injuries among workers, it is crucial to understand the association between sleep deprivation and postural stability. An ongoing study with larger sample is conducting to confirm the result.