Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 24, 2026
14:52
Computerized Dynamic Posturography for Postural Control Assessment in Patients with Intermittent Claudication
Published on: December 11, 2013
11.5K
Association between Objective and Subjective Sleep Parameters with Postural Control Responses among Brazilian
Daiane Soares de Almeida Ciquinato1, Luciana Lozza de Moraes Marchiori1,2, Jessica Aparecida Bazoni1
1Health Science Department, Doctoral and Master's Programs in Rehabilitation Sciences at UEL/UNOPAR, Pitagoras University-UNOPAR, Londrina, Parana, Brazil.
Sleep Science (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
|July 10, 2023
Summary
Poor sleep quality in teachers is linked to increased postural sway, indicating a potential impact on balance and stability. Further research is needed to confirm these findings in larger populations.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Sleep Science
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Postural control is crucial for daily activities and injury prevention.
- Sleep quality is a significant factor influencing cognitive and physical functions.
- Teachers represent a population potentially exposed to high work-related stress, impacting sleep and health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between sleep quality and postural control in schoolteachers.
- To assess both objective and subjective measures of sleep quality.
- To evaluate postural control using force platform measurements.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 41 schoolteachers.
- Sleep quality assessed via actigraphy (objective) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (subjective).
- Postural control measured on a force platform in various stances and surfaces with eyes open.
Main Results:
- Over half (53.7%) of the teachers reported poor sleep quality.
- No significant differences in postural control parameters were found between good and poor sleep groups.
- A moderate negative correlation was observed between subjective sleep efficiency and postural sway in the semitandem stance.
Conclusions:
- While direct differences were not found, a correlation suggests that decreased sleep efficiency may lead to increased postural sway in teachers.
- This study highlights a potential link between sleep quality and postural control in an understudied occupational group.
- Further investigation with larger sample sizes is recommended to validate these findings and explore contributing factors.
Related Concept Videos
02:07Blind Procedures
Ideally, the people who observe and record the children’s behavior are unaware of who was assigned to the experimental or control group, in order to control for experimenter bias. Experimenter bias refers to the possibility that a researcher’s expectations might skew the results of the study. Remember, conducting an experiment requires a lot of planning, and the people involved in the research project have a vested interest in supporting their hypotheses. If the observers knew which child was...
01:24Sleep-Wake Cycles
Sleep is an essential physiological process vital to maintaining overall well-being. The reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem, regulates wakefulness and sleep. While it may seem passive, sleep consists of distinct cycles, each with its unique characteristics and functions. Two key sleep phases are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM).
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
01:23Sedatives and Hypnotics: Overview
Sedatives are drugs that alleviate anxiety, while hypnotics induce sleep. Both classes of medication suppress neuronal activity, leading to a calming effect for sedatives and facilitating sleep for hypnotics.
Sedative-hypnotics are categorized into barbiturates, benzodiazepines (BZDs), and non-benzodiazepines or Z-drugs. These drugs work by suppressing central nervous system activity, and this suppression is dose-dependent. Older sedative medications, like barbiturates, follow a linear curve in...
Sedative-hypnotics are categorized into barbiturates, benzodiazepines (BZDs), and non-benzodiazepines or Z-drugs. These drugs work by suppressing central nervous system activity, and this suppression is dose-dependent. Older sedative medications, like barbiturates, follow a linear curve in...
01:11Understanding Sleep
Sleep, an essential biological state, involves significant reductions in physical activity, sensory awareness, and interaction with the environment. This complex physiological process is primarily regulated by specific brain regions, notably the hypothalamus and pons, which govern the sleep-wake cycle or circadian rhythm.
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
01:15REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) is a sleep disorder characterized by the absence of muscle paralysis that normally occurs during the REM phase of sleep. This absence allows individuals to physically act out their dreams, which are often vivid and disturbing. Common behaviors exhibited during episodes include kicking, punching, and yelling. These actions can be dangerous, potentially leading to injuries for the person with RBD or their bed partner.
RBD is significantly associated with...
RBD is significantly associated with...
01:24Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Substance use disorders involve a pattern of using drugs more extensively than intended and continuing use despite harmful consequences. This includes legal substances like alcohol and nicotine, as well as illegal drugs. These disorders often involve both physical and psychological dependence, reflecting compulsive use of substances that significantly alter thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, contributing to a major public health issue.
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...