The effects of a four-day march on the gonadotrophins and mood states of army officers.
The effects of daily repeated prolonged exercise on gonadotrophin levels and mood states were studied in six physically active army officers participating in a 4-day march totaling 185 km. We hypothesized that submaximal daily repeated prolonged exercise may disturb the balance of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis, which could be determined from the concentrations of serum luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone with time-resolved immunofluorometric assay. In addition, the mood states of the men were followed during the exercise period. The results indicate that soldiers who are in good physical condition and are accustomed to marching are capable of marathon walking on 4 successive days while carrying a 10-kg backpack, without any major adverse effects on the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis or mood states. This study indicates that psychological monitoring and physiological measurements could be of value in following responses to daily repeated prolonged psychophysiological stress in field conditions with soldiers.
LIKES-Research Center, University Campus, FIN-40100 Jyväskylä, Finland.
Ilkka
I
Väänänen
Tommi
T
Vasankari
Matti
M
Mäntysaari
Veikko
V
Vihko
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology*; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*
D006062:Gonadotropins