Ergonomics, DRDO Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, New Delhi, Delhi, India
Ergonomics, DRDO Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, New Delhi, Delhi, India.
BMJ Mil Health. 2024 Jul 24;170(4):342-347. doi: 10.1136/military-2022-002154.
Long-distance runs with equipment are practised in military training establishments to develop physical stamina and prepare for battles. A study was planned to quantify and compare the physiological and mental workloads of the early and late finishers of a military endurance run through the jungle terrain of north-eastern India in hot and humid conditions.
Twenty-five soldiers of the Indian Army completed a 15 km run through a rural and jungle track with 6.5 kg of equipment. Twelve participants who finished the race before 130 min were categorised as 'early finishers', and 13 were categorised as 'late finishers' who finished the race after 130 min. Physiological parameters, viz., heart rate (HR), breathing rate (BR), estimated core temperature (ECT), peak acceleration (PAC), and physiological intensity (PHYI) and mechanical intensity (MECHI) were recorded using BioHarness V.3 (Zephyr Technologies, USA) and NASA Task Load Index scores were obtained to assess mental workload. Mann-Whitney U test was applied to assess the level of significance at a p value of <0.05.
HR, ECT and PAC were significantly higher (167.9 and 156.0 beats/min, 39.0℃ and 38.4℃, and 1.1 and 1.0 g, respectively) for the first group compared with the second group. The second group expressed higher BR and subjective responses ('total scores' were 76.5 and 82.5, respectively) than the first. The PHYI was significantly higher (from 7.2 to 6.3) for the first group, whereas the MECHI was similar in both groups.
The successful completion by the first group can be attributed to their motivation to continue heavy work in an adverse environment, and their ability to negotiate with natural obstacles was reflected through controlled subjective responses. Adoption of a possible safe and stable approach to the same task might have led the second group to take a longer duration, exert higher mental effort and demand lower physiological cost.
在军事训练机构中进行带装备的长跑训练，以发展体力并为战斗做准备。本研究旨在通过在印度东北部炎热潮湿的丛林地形中进行的军事耐力跑，量化和比较早期和晚期完成者的生理和心理工作量。
25 名印度陆军士兵完成了 15 公里的乡村和丛林赛道，负重 6.5 公斤。12 名在 130 分钟前完成比赛的参与者被归类为“早期完成者”，13 名在 130 分钟后完成比赛的参与者被归类为“晚期完成者”。使用 BioHarness V.3（美国 Zephyr 技术公司）记录生理参数，如心率（HR）、呼吸率（BR）、估计核心温度（ECT）、峰值加速度（PAC）、生理强度（PHYI）和机械强度（MECHI），并获得 NASA 任务负荷指数评分以评估心理工作量。应用曼-惠特尼 U 检验评估 p 值<0.05 时的显著性水平。
与第二组相比，第一组的 HR、ECT 和 PAC 显著更高（分别为 167.9 和 156.0 次/分、39.0℃和 38.4℃以及 1.1 和 1.0g）。第二组的 BR 和主观反应更高（总分分别为 76.5 和 82.5）。第一组的 PHYI 显著更高（从 7.2 降至 6.3），而两组的 MECHI 相似。
第一组的成功完成归因于他们在不利环境中继续进行重体力劳动的动力，以及他们通过控制主观反应来应对自然障碍的能力。采用一种可能安全且稳定的方法来完成相同的任务可能导致第二组需要更长的时间、更高的心理努力和更低的生理成本。
