Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/723417
September 2016 | Overdrive | 39 A 2014 National Institute for Occupa- tional Health and Safety study of long- haul truck drivers classified 69 percent of survey respondents as obese. That's more than 50 percent higher than rates among other workers. Obesity is linked directly to health concerns such as diabetes, heart disease and sleep apnea. The same study found that 80 percent of surveyed truck drivers reported they had at least one risk factor for chron- ic disease: hypertension, smoking or obesity. That number, too, is significantly higher than the comparable rate for all working adults: 54 percent. Nine percent of drivers said they had all three of the risk factors for chronic disease versus 2 percent for all workers. While the NIOHS study didn't specifi- cally correlate truckers' prolonged sitting with their high prevalence of obesity and heart disease, these health risks have been connected to sitting in other work environments. "Being sedentary is a risk factor for obesity, and therefore for sleep apnea," says Barbara Phillips, a medical doc- tor and professor in the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. Apnea's other risk factors include genetics, aging, cigarette smoking and more. Sleep apnea, in turn, is associated with hypertension, stroke, heart rhythm problems, heart failure, coronary artery disease, impotence, depression and worsened diabetes control, says Phillips. Use of CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) devices for sleep apnea usually reduces or normalizes these risks, she says. Beyond these risks for chronic disease, truckers also face greater incidence of the musculoskeletal problems that accompany excessive sitting. These include back and shoulder pain, arthritis and more. Prolonged sitting also increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis, which happens when a blood clot forms in a deep vein. This can lead to illness and disability. "We found that when we had people sit for three hours in the laboratory that the functioning of the arteries in their legs went down to half within one hour NECK PRESSES. In each of these, hold the press for 10 seconds, and repeat six times. Press your palm against your forehead, and use your neck to press back. Do the same with the other palm. Press your palm against your temple, and use your neck to press back. Do the same with the other side. Cup your hands behind your head. Use your neck to push back into your cupped hands. IMPROVE OVERALL STRENGTH Adults need at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, including some overall muscle-strengthening activities a few days a week, says the Centers for Disease Control. While many exercises fall under that broad umbrella, these are particularly good for relieving and preventing back pain, says the North American Spine Society, and require no equipment. PLANK. Get on your elbows and lift your hips and knees, keeping shoulders, hips and knees in a straight line. Maintain the lifted position for 10 seconds, and then relax. Repeat five times. SIDE BRIDGE. Begin on your side with knees at a 90-degree angle, and prop yourself up on your elbow. Lift your hips up, and keep your head, shoulders and hips straight. Hold the lifted position for 10 seconds before lower- ing. Repeat one to five times on each side. ABDOMINAL CRUNCH. Get on your back with your knees bent. Lift your chest up toward your knees, exhaling. Repeat 10-15 times or until fatigued.