For professional drivers, there is a possibility to have musculoskeletal disorders on ankle joint due to repetitive pedaling operation. Therefore, this study have focused to examine ankle active range of motion (AROM), dorsiflexor strength, and pressure pain threshold (PPT) of tibialis anterior muscle (TA) in taxi drivers compared to a age-matched control group. Thirty male taxi drivers with at least 10 years of driving experience and thirty male sedentary workers were evaluated for ankle AROM, dorsiflexor strength, and PPT of TA. Multiple independent t-tests were used to identify significant differences between two groups. For the results, taxi drivers had significantly less AROM in dorsiflexion and greater AROM in external tibial rotation compared to the control group. Also, dorsiflexor strength and PPT of TA in taxi drivers was significantly lower than in the control group. This study indicates that the repetitive ankle movements associated with driving have an effect on ankle AROM, dorsiflexor strength, and PPT of TA and may lead to work-related musculoskeletal disorders on ankle. Professional drivers may need to be educated to prevent a potential musculoskeletal disorders associated with repetitive movement.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the secondary tasks such as sending text message (STM) and searching navigation (SN) on skin conductance level (SCL) and driving performance of relatively aged and high-experienced drivers. The s

본 연구에서는 50대 택시 운전자를 대상으로 동작 신호인 Jerk-Cost function(JC)와 차간거리의 분산계수(Anterior-Posterior Coefficient of Variation, APCV), 차선이격거리의 분산계수(Medial-Lateral Coefficient of Variation, MLCV)와 같은 차량 통제 데이터를 이용하여 운전 중 문자 메시지 전송 또는 네비게이션 검색과 같은 동시 과제 수행이 운전 수행 능력에 어떠한 영향을 미치는지를 알아보고자 하였다. 남성 14명과 여성 14명을 대상으로 실험을 진행하였다. 피험자는 일정 속도(80km/hr or 100km/hr)로 주행하는 선행 차량과 일정 거리 30m를 유지하며 주행하도록 하였다. 처음 1분간은 운전만을 수행하게 하였으며, 다음 1분 동안은 운전만을 수행하거나 운전과 함께 동시 과제를 수행하도록 하였다. MLCV와 APCV는 80km/hr와 100km/hr 주행 시 Driving only에 비해 Driving + Sending Text Message(STM)와 Driving + Searching Navigation(SN)에서 유의하게 증가하였다. JC 또한 주행 시 Driving only에 비해 Driving + STM과 Driving + SN에서 증가하였다. 본 연구를 통해 운전 경력이 길고 운전 전문가라고 할 수 있는 50대 택시 운전자도 운전만을 수행하는 경우에 비해 운전과 함께 문자 메시지 전송 또는 네비게이션 검색 과제를 수행하게 될 경우 동작 패턴이 거칠어지고 차량 통제가 어려워진다는 사실을 도출할 수 있었다.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the secondary tasks such as sending text message (STM) and searching navigation (SN) on skin conductance level (SCL) during driving. The participants included 29 taxi drivers; 14 males aged 56.7 ± 4.3 with 29.7 ± 7.0 years of driving experiences and 15 females aged 55.5 ± 3.5 with 20.1 ± 5.7 years of driving experiences. All subjects were instructed to keep a certain distance (30m) from the car ahead and a constant speed (80km/h or 100km/h). SCL was measured during driving only and driving with secondary tasks. SCL was more increased during the driving with secondary tasks than driving only. By increasing the driving speed, SCL was increased during the driving with secondary taks. Secondary tasks increased an activation of sympathetic nerve system. However, there were no significant differences in the SCL according to gender.

The purpose of this study was to find prevalence and the relevant factors of low back pain among taxi-drivers. Information were obtained by a self-administered questionnaire during september, 2004, from 83 taxi-drivers in Gimhae, Kyung Nam province. The data were analyzed by chi-square test and Multiple Logistic Regression(if this is a proper noun, it needs to be capital, if not it needs lower case) by using SPSS 10.0 program. The result were as follows: 1) The prevalence rate of low back pain during lifetime was 81.9% among 83 taxi-drivers. 2) Statistically significant factors related to low back pain during lifetime were sleeping time(p<.05). 3) Through the multiple logistic regression, significantly relevant factors with low back pain were alcohol drinking (OR=.017, 95% CI=.001~.509), and sleeping time (OR=.111, 95% CI=.020~.636). It is necessary to study on a preventive measure of low back pain and systematic human engineering approach through objective clinical research.