Soldier performance and mood states following a strenuous road march.
Eighty-nine soldiers performed a maximal effort 20-km road march, carrying a total load of 46 kg. Compared to pre-march values, post-march marksmanship accuracy decreased 26% for number of target hits and 33% for distance from the centroid of the target. Maximal grenade throw distance decreased 9%, but there was no change in maximal vertical jump height. The Profile of Mood States questionnaire revealed an 82% increase in self-reported fatigue and 38% decrease in vigor. Significant decrements in some aspects of military performance occur when soldiers march rapidly with heavy loads over long distances.
Knapik
J
J
U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Exercise Physiology Division, Natick, MA 01760-5007.
Staab
J
J
Bahrke
M
M
Reynolds
K
K
Vogel
J
J
O'Connor
J
J
D000339:Affect; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000209:etiology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*