Thermal stress and acclimation effects in military physiological performance

Abstract

This article corresponds to a case study with 6 young male military who were tested for three types of exertion: marching without load, marching with load, and running at two different environmental conditions: thermoneutral (± 22°C and ± 40% rh) and thermal stress (± 40°C and ± 30% rh), with two adaptation levelsunacclimated and acclimated to the thermal stress condition. Core temperature, heart rate, VO2,body mass loss, and lactate were measured; the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) was also used. The thermal stress situation decreased the overall physiological performance and increased the rate of perceived exertion. After acclimation all participants improved their overall performance. (c) 2017 Taylor & Francis Group, London.