Suchergebnisse

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. Method A total of 57 male and female soldiers undergoing the Australian Army combat engineer Initial Employment Training course were recruited and tracked over a 16-day study period which included an 8-day field-based military training exercise. Cognitive performance was assessed via a computerised battery at seven time points across four sequential study periods; 1) baseline (PRE), 2) military field training exercise which included total sleep deprivation (EX-FIELD), 3) training exercise at simulated base with restricted sleep opportunities (EX-BASE), and 4) a 3-day recovery period (REC). Subjective load, fatigue, and sleep were evaluated continuously via questionnaire and actigraphy. Results Psychomotor speed, reaction time, visual tracking and vigilance were impaired following the EX-FIELD period ( p < 0.05). The majority of affected measures recovered 2 days following EX-FIELD, being no different in EX-BASE compared to PRE. Conclusion The sensitivity of the cognitive tests to sleep restriction, and recovery, indicates they can help assess operational readiness in military personnel. Future studies should explore other indicators of, and strategies to preserve, operational readiness in military personnel. Application This study highlights the impact of work-induced fatigue on cognitive performance, and would interest authorities seeking to preserve operational readiness.

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 ± 6.8 y; 177.4 ± 10.1 cm, 75.6 ± 14.7 kg) consented to daily activity monitoring and weekly measures of subjective wellbeing (Multi-component Training Distress Scale, MTDS). The physical demands of training were assessed via wrist worn activity monitors (Actigraph GT9X accelerometer). Physical fitness changes were assessed by push-ups, sit-ups and multi-stage shuttle run in weeks 2 and 8. Results: All objective and subjective measures significantly changed (p < 0.05) across the 12 week BMT course. In parallel, there was a significant improvement in measures of physical fitness from weeks 2 to 8 (p < 0.001). The greatest disturbance to subjective wellbeing occurred during week 10, which was a period of field training. Weeks 6 and 12 provided opportunities for recovery as reflected by improved wellbeing. Conclusions: The physical demands of training varied across the Australian Army 12 week BMT course and reflected the intended periodization of workload and recovery. Physical fitness improved from week 2 to 8, indicating a positive training response to BMT. Consistent with findings in sport, wellbeing measures were sensitive to fluctuations in training stress and appear to have utility for individual management of personnel in the military training environment.