Journal article
Physiological recovery among workers in long-distance sleddog race: a case study on female veterinarians in Finnmarksløpet
- Abstract:
- BACKGROUND: During Finnmarksløpet (FL, one of the longest distance sleddog races in the world), veterinarians are exposed to extreme environmental conditions and tight working schedules, with little and fragmented sleep. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this case study was to examine cardiovascular parameters and sleep-wake patterns among veterinarians working within FL, during and after (for a month) the end of the race. METHODS: Six female veterinarians volunteered for the study. The participants wore a wrist device for a total of eight weeks in order to passively and semi-continuously record physiological responses throughout the day (i.e., heart rate, heart rate variability, number of steps, and sleep quality). Moreover, perceived sleep quality was assessed by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). RESULTS: During and for one month after completion of the FL, most veterinarians presented an alteration of cardiovascular parameters and sleep quality. The heart rate circadian rhythm returned to pre-race values within about two weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The long-lasting alteration of the veterinarians’ cardiovascular parameters and sleep-wake patterns might have negative consequences for their health in the long-term, especially if similar experiences are repeated more times though the course of a year or season. More research is needed in order to understand the health risks, as well as how to prevent them, among veterinarians in long-distance sleddog races or other similar events.
- Publication status:
- Published
- Peer review status:
- Peer reviewed
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Access Document
- Files:
-
-
(Preview, Accepted manuscript, 469.4KB, Terms of use)
-
- Publisher copy:
- 10.3233/WOR-210331
Authors
- Publisher:
- IOS Press
- Journal:
- Work More from this journal
- Volume:
- 71
- Issue:
- 3
- Pages:
- 749-760
- Publication date:
- 2022-03-25
- Acceptance date:
- 2021-08-31
- DOI:
- ISSN:
-
1051-9815
- Language:
-
English
- Keywords:
- Pubs id:
-
1192725
- Local pid:
-
pubs:1192725
- Deposit date:
-
2021-08-26
Terms of use
- Copyright holder:
- IOS Press
- Copyright date:
- 2022
- Rights statement:
- Copyright © 2022 IOS Press. All rights reserved.
- Notes:
-
This is the accepted manuscript version of the article. The final version is available from IOS Press at https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-210331
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