The effect of weapon handling during load carriage across a range of military-relevant walking speeds.

This study investigated the effects of weapon handling on the physiological responses and walking-gait kinematics during load carriage. Seventeen soldiers completed four twelve-minute bouts of treadmill walking at incremental speeds (3.5, 5.

Characterising the physical demands of critical tasks across the Royal Australian Air Force.

Background: Militaries have historically utilised generic physical fitness tests to assess physical readiness, but there has been a recent shift to develop physical employment standards (PES) based on actual job demands.

Objective: The purpose of this investigation was to characterise the physical demands of critical tasks performed by Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) personnel to inform PES development.

Methods: Job task analysis were performed for 27 RAAF trades.

The test-retest reliability of physiological and perceptual responses during treadmill load carriage.

Purpose: Understanding the test-retest reliability of physiological responses to load carriage influences the interpretation of those results. The aim of this study was to determine the test-retest reliability of physiological measures during loaded treadmill walking at 5.5 km h using the MetaMax 3B.

Characterising Psycho-Physiological Responses and Relationships during a Military Field Training Exercise.

Unlabelled: Over a 15-day period, that included an eight-day field trial, the aims of this study were to (1) quantify the physical workload, sleep and subjective well-being of soldiers in training; (2a) Explore relationships between workload and well-being, and (2b) sleep and well-being; (3) Explore relationships between workload, sleep, and well-being.

Methods: Sixty-two Combat Engineer trainees (59 male, 3 female; age: 25.2 ± 7.

Overnight heart rate variability responses to military combat engineer training.

The study aimed to determine if overnight heart rate variability (HRV) is reflective of workload and stress during military training. Measures of cognitive load, perceived exertion, physical activity, nocturnal HRV, cognitive performance and sleep were recorded for a 15-day assessment period in 32 combat engineers. The assessment period consisted of 4 phases, PRE, FIELD, BASE and RECOVERY that exposed trainees to periods of sleep deprivation and restriction.

Overnight sleeping heart rate variability of Army recruits during a 12-week basic military training course.

Purpose: This study aimed to quantify sleeping heart rate (HR) and HR variability (HRV) alongside circulating tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) concentrations during 12-week Basic Military Training (BMT). We hypothesised that, despite a high allostatic load, BMT would increase cardiorespiratory fitness and HRV, while lowering both sleeping HR and TNFα in young healthy recruits.

Methods: Sixty-three recruits (18-43 years) undertook ≥ 2 overnight cardiac frequency recordings in weeks 1, 8 and 12 of BMT with 4 h of beat-to-beat HR collected between 00:00 and 06:00 h on each night.

Quantification of Recruit Training Demands and Subjective Wellbeing during Basic Military Training.

Purpose: Assess and describe the physical demands and changes in subjective wellbeing of recruits completing the 12 week Australian Army Basic Military Training (BMT) course. Methods: Thirty-five recruits (24.8 ± 6.

Factors Predicting Training Delays and Attrition of Recruits during Basic Military Training.

Ensuring a balance between training demands and recovery during basic military training (BMT) is necessary for avoiding maladaptive training responses (e.g., illness or injury).

Recovery of Cognitive Performance Following Multi-Stressor Military Training.

Objective: This project aimed to assess the impact of an 8-day military training exercise on cognitive performance, and track its recovery in periods of reduced training load and partially restored sleep.

Background: Military personnel often work in challenging multi-stressor environments, where sleep loss is inevitable. Sleep loss can impair multiple cognitive domains, which can have disastrous consequences in military contexts.

Mechanical Differences between Men and Women during Overground Load Carriage at Self-Selected Walking Speeds.

Few studies have directly compared physical responses to relative loading strategies between men and women during overground walking. This study aimed to compare gait mechanics of men and women during overground load carriage. A total of 30 participants (15 male, 15 female) completed three 10-min walking trials while carrying external loads of 0%, 20% and 40% of body mass at a self-selected walking speed.

Monitoring Responses to Basic Military Training with Heart Rate Variability.

Introduction: Heart rate variability (HRV) has shown sensitivity to the acute stressors experienced by defense personnel. This study examines the suitability of overnight HRV as a repeated measure of allostatic load in defense personnel.

Methods: Daily measures of sleep, cognitive load, and perceived exertion were reported for the 12-wk duration of basic military training (BMT) in 48 recruits.

Chronicity of sleep restriction during Army basic military training.

Objectives: To investigate: (i) the chronicity and phasic variability of sleep patterns and restriction in recruits during basic military training (BMT); and (ii) identify subjective sleep quality in young adult recruits prior to entry into BMT.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Methods: Sleep was monitored using wrist-worn actigraphy in Army recruits (n = 57, 18-43 y) throughout 12-weeks of BMT.

Impact of military training stress on hormone response and recovery.

Objectives: Military personnel are required to train and operate in challenging multi-stressor environments, which can affect hormonal levels, and subsequently compromise performance and recovery. The aims of this project were to 1) assess the impact of an eight-day military training exercise on salivary cortisol and testosterone, 2) track the recovery of these hormones during a period of reduced training.

Methods: This was a prospective study whereby 30 soldiers (n = 27 men, n = 3 women) undergoing the Australian Army combat engineer 'Initial Employment Training' course were recruited and tracked over a 16-day study period which included an eight-day military training exercise.

The physiological demand of a task simulation varies when developed by independent groups of experiential experts.

Objective: To investigate the disparity in the specification and physiological demand of a task simulation when developed by two independent panels of experiential experts.

Design: Independent groups design.

Methods: Two groups of experiential experts from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) worked independently to design, and then complete a simulation of a generic occupational task; the establishment of a security control point.

Subjective Measures of Workload and Sleep in Australian Army Recruits; Potential Utility as Monitoring Tools.

Introduction: Subjective measures may offer practitioners a relatively simple method to monitor recruit responses to basic military training (BMT). Yet, a lack of agreement between subjective and objective measures may presents a problem to practitioners wishing to implement subjective monitoring strategies. This study therefore aims to examine associations between subjective and objective measures of workload and sleep in Australian Army recruits.

The influence of a basic military training diet on whole blood fatty acid profile and the Omega-3 Index of Australian Army recruits.

This study described the whole blood fatty acid profile and Omega-3 Index (O3I) of Australian Army recruits at the commencement and completion of basic military training (BMT). Eighty males (17-34 y, 77.4 ± 13.

Monitoring stress and allostatic load in first responders and tactical operators using heart rate variability: a systematic review.

Background: Awareness of the cumulative stress placed on first responders and tactical operators is required to manage acute fatigue, which can impair occupational performance, and may precipitate negative chronic health outcomes. The aim of this review was to investigate the utility of heart rate variability (HRV) to monitor stress and allostatic load among these populations.

Methods: A systematic search of Academic Search Complete, MEDLINE complete, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus and Scopus databases was conducted.

Physical training considerations for optimizing performance in essential military tasks.

Physically demanding essential military tasks include load carriage, manual material handling and casualty evacuation. This narrative review characterizes the main physical attributes related to performance of these occupational tasks and reviews physical training intervention studies in military settings to improve performance in these military tasks. Load carriage performance requires both aerobic and neuromuscular fitness with greater emphasis on maximal strength and absolute maximal oxygen uptake, especially when carrying heavier loads.

Associations between inflammatory markers and well-being during 12 weeks of basic military training.

Purpose: Stress, anxiety and physical exertion are all closely linked to well-being, and each can alter immune function. Diminished well-being has been observed during military training, however there is mixed evidence regarding whether concomitant changes in inflammatory markers occur, with these phenomena indicating potential maladaptive responses to imposed training loads. The aims of this project were (1) assess changes in inflammation and subjective well-being across a 12-week basic military training (BMT) program, and (2) evaluate relationships between circulating inflammatory markers and well-being.

Treadmill load carriage overestimates energy expenditure of overground load carriage.

This study compared physiological and biomechanical responses between treadmill and overground load carriage. Thirty adults completed six 10-minute walking trials across three loads (0, 20, and 40% body mass) and two surfaces (treadmill and overground). Relative oxygen consumption was significantly greater on the treadmill for 20% (1.