Optimization of load carriage at desert environment

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to assess the effect of different magnitudes of load on physiological responses of soldiers in desert terrain and also to estimate an optimum load that can be carried comfortably at specific walking speed. Nine infantry male soldiers of SHAPE-I standard with age 25.22 ± 1.02 years, height 170.78 ± 0.95 cm and weight 66.56 ± 2.38 Kg volunteered in this study. All participants were marched at speed of 6.13 ± 0.40 Km h−1 in desert terrain with 10.7 Kg (16.07% BW) and 21.4 Kg (32.15% BW) load and without load. Heart rate (HR), respiratory frequency (RF), oxygen consumption (VO2), minute ventilation (VE), energy expenditure (EE) and relative work load (RWL) were recorded by using K4b2 system. During carrying of 10.7 Kg load HR, VO2, EE, RF, VE and RWL (%VO2max) were increased 13.88, 18.20, 20.16, 7.86, 19.30 and 23.71% respectively in comparison to no load. Similarly, during 21.4 Kg load, physiological responses viz.; HR, VO2, EE, RF, VE and RWL (%VO2max) were increased 24.84, 36.98, 33.68, 21.24, 38.25 and 40.64% respectively in comparison to no load. The observation of this study stated that 6.27 Kg (9.42%BW, 50% RWL), 13.7 Kg (20.58%BW, 60%RWL) and 24.86 Kg (37.35%BW, 75% RWL) can be recommended for 8 h, 2 h and for 30 min respectively. Relevance to industryMost of the countries do not have their own database for load carriage in specific environmental conditions. Result of this study will be helpful to the similar kind of population working under specified conditions.