Combined Effects of Exposure to Noise and Vibration on Human Postural Equilibrium under Simulated Driving Conditions

Abstract

There is little information about drivers’ body balance responses to combined exposure of noise and vibration. To fill the gap, this study aims to investigate the combined effects of exposure to noise and whole-body vibration (WBV) on the body balance under simulated driving conditions. For this purpose, 30 male participants were exposed to noise level at 85 dB(A) and two vibration levels (0.87 and 1.3 m/s2) in five sessions. The design of the study was repeated-measures, and it attempted to assess the effects of 40 minutes of exposure to noise and/or WBV. Moreover, the participants’ fatigue was measured with the Borg scale (CR 10). The findings revealed there was a significant change in body sway after WBV and combined noise and WBV exposure (p < 0.05). However, no significant difference was found in exposure to noise alone (p > 0.05). The effect sizes of exposure to noise, WBV (1.3 m/s2), and combined noise and WBV (1.3 m/s2) on body balance were 0.035, 0.425, and 0.635, respectively. Also, single exposure to WBV caused more fatigue than single exposure to noise (p < 0.05). Combined noise and WBV exposure descriptively caused more fatigue in comparison with the influence of WBV alone. The study concluded that the combined effects of exposure to noise and vibration are more than the sum of them. So, some synergistic effects may be observed in human body balance. It is essential to increase drivers’ awareness and revise current health care interventions about new possible effects of combined exposures.