Predicting Responses to Exhausting, Prolonged, And Repeated Exercise Demands (PREPARED) for Heat

Summary

The overall goal of this project is to identify a work/rest cycle that allows for faster mission completion needed in emergency situations, compared to current Army heat guidance, while mitigating heat strain and neuromuscular fatigue. This project will determine the trade-off between faster mission completion and risk of heat strain and physical performance decrements. Completion of this project will allow military leaders to make informed decisions by understanding the impact of their choices on the magnitude of physical performance decrements and expected heat casualties, setting up hot weather missions for success.

Eligibility

Age range

18–39 years

Sex

All

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Interventions

• Other
  30/30 work/rest cycle

  Participants will walk on a treadmill while wearing a weighted backpack to a work/rest cycle of 30 minutes of work followed by 30 minutes of rest.

• Other
  30/20 work/rest cycle

  Participants will walk on a treadmill while wearing a weighted backpack to a work/rest cycle of 30 minutes of work followed by 20 minutes of rest.

• Other
  40/30 work/rest cycle

  Participants will walk on a treadmill while wearing a weighted backpack to a work/rest cycle of 40 minutes of work followed by 30 minutes of rest.

• Other
  20/12 work/rest cycle

  Participants will walk on a treadmill while wearing a weighted backpack to a work/rest cycle of 20 minutes of work followed by 12 minutes of rest.

Location