Circadian rhythm of heart rate and physical activity in nurses during day and night shifts.

Purpose: The study investigates if the circadian rhythm of heart rate is apparent during the working periods of day and night shifts in Swiss and Japanese nurses and if it is influenced by work organization. For a better interpretation of the heart rate, the activity profile over these working periods was monitored.

Methods: Heart rate and activity profile of 18 Swiss and 24 Japanese nurses were measured during one day and one night shift.

Trapezius muscle load, heart rate and time pressure during day and night shift in Swiss and Japanese nurses.

The aim of the present study was to analyze the activity of the trapezius muscle, the heart rate and the time pressure of Swiss and Japanese nurses during day and night shifts. The parameters were measured during a day and a night shift of 17 Swiss and 22 Japanese nurses. The observed rest time of the trapezius muscle was longer for Swiss than for Japanese nurses during both shifts.