Diurnal variations in spinal loading and the effects on stature: a preliminary study of nursing activities

A new method for recording the postures and activities of nurses has been developed. Using a simple coding system, each change in posture or activity was entered on a portable microcomputer and the results stored on cassette, thus creating a real time-based, permanent record for subsequent analysis of the frequency and duration. of each posture and activity. Twelve nurses from six different wards were observed throughout two full working shifts. At intervals during the working shifts, stature of the nurses was measured to an accuracy of at least 1 mm and, for comparison, the diurnal change in stature on their days off. Overall loss of stature was greater during the 8-h working shifts than during a 12-h period on their days off. There were significant correlations between loss of stature and both the total duration of lean/stoop postures and the total duration of lifting.