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Describing Physical Activity Patterns of Truck Drivers Using Actigraphy
Brad Wipfli1,2, Sean P M Rice1,2, Ryan Olson1,2,3
1School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University-Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA.
Safety and Health at Work
|October 11, 2023
Summary
Truck drivers engage in minimal physical activity (PA), averaging only 14.4 minutes weekly. Objective PA assessment is recommended over self-reports for accurate health insights in this occupation.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Transportation Safety
- Physical Activity Research
Background:
- Truck driving is a sedentary occupation linked to chronic health issues like obesity and hypertension.
- Understanding physical activity (PA) patterns is crucial for mitigating health risks in truck drivers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To objectively characterize the typical physical activity (PA) patterns of truck drivers.
- To compare objective PA data with self-reported exercise levels.
Main Methods:
- Utilized actigraphy data from 394 truck drivers over 7-10 days.
- Analyzed PA patterns including bout frequency, duration, and timing.
- Compared accelerometer-derived PA with self-reported exercise data.
Main Results:
- Truck drivers averaged only 14.4 minutes of weekly PA.
- Most physical activity occurred between 5-6 PM on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
- Drivers significantly overestimated their weekly exercise by over 60 minutes compared to objective data.
Conclusions:
- Objective PA assessment is more reliable than self-report for truck drivers.
- PA intervention strategies should consider the specific timing of activity for this population.
