Optimization of mental working capacity of hazardous occupations specialists by hypoxic therapy

Abstract

Objective: justifi cation of the use of normobaric hypoxic therapy (NHT) for recovery of mental working capacity of the hazardous occupations specialists. Materials and methods. Th e studies included 26 hazardous occupations specialists (men aged 25-37 years old), with signs of non-pathological neurotic manifestations and decrease in mental capacity. 14 people (the basic group - BG) received medical and psychological rehabilitation (MPR) with the use of NHT: 12 procedures 2 hours stay in a room with O2 content 17-15%. For the remaining 12 people (comparison group - CG) similar activities of the MPR were carried out, and NHT was imitated. To assess the psycho-emotional status and mental working capacity were used: “State of health, activity, mood” (SAM); “Reactive anxiety” (RA); “Arithmetic account” (AA). Results. As a result of the MPR, the increase of the SAMintegral index in BG was 23% compared to the initial level, the decrease of RA about -14%; in the CG, similar changes amounted to an average of 15% and -8%, respectively (р<0,05). Th e increase of the AA-integral indicator in BG was averaged 38% of the reference level, in CG - about 20% (p=0.015). Conclusions: Th e NHT is the method of choice in correction of non-pathological neurotic manifestations, restoring of mental working capacity of the hazardous occupations specialists.

Keywords

• mental working capacity
• normobaric hypoxic therapy