Cadets' swimming and running performance with and without a combat uniform.
BACKGROUND
The aim was to examine whether a combat uniform (CU) influences the cadet's exercise performance in and out of the water.


METHODS
Fourteen male Army Officer cadets performed on 6 separate days: (1) a maximal 400-m freestyle swimming trial; (2) a 4 x 50-m all-out freestyle swimming trial with 10 s rest in between; (3) a 50-m swim obstacle course with a CU (CUs); (4) a 50-m swim obstacle course without a CU (NUs); (5) a 1000-m track run with a CU (CU(R)); and (6) a 1000-m track run without a CU (NUR). In each trial, performance time, oxygen uptake (Vo2), lactate concentration ([La]), and capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2) were recorded.


RESULTS
The mean performance time was 44.3 +/- 3.1 s and 33.4 +/- 1.8 s in CUs and NUs trials, respectively. Peak VO2 was similar in CUs, NUs, and 400 m (CUs: 59.1 +/- 1.1 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1), NUs: 57.3 +/- 2.1 ml kg(-1) x min(-1), 400 m: 58.2 +/- 1.6 ml x kg(-1) min(-1)). [La] was higher in CUs than in NUs (CUs: 10.0 +/- 2.0 mmol x L(-1), NUs: 8.5 +/- 1.8 mmol x L(-1)), but it was lower in CUs and NUs than during the 400 m and 4 x 50 m. SpO2 was lower (approximately 4.5%) in CUs than NUs. No differences were observed between running trials.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that the use of CU during swimming tasks induces high demands for energy and, thus, leads to a significant impairment of the swimming performance of the cadets. However, the influence of the CU seems to be less crucial during dry land running performance.
Evelpidon Hellenic Army Academy, Faculty of Physical and Cultural Education, Vari, Greece. skounal@phed.uoa.gr
Stylianos N
SN
Kounalakis
Evelpidon Hellenic Army Academy, Faculty of Physical and Cultural Education, Vari, Greece.
Ioannis
I
Kostoulas
Evelpidon Hellenic Army Academy, Faculty of Physical and Cultural Education, Vari, Greece.
Konstantinos
K
Havenetidis
Evelpidon Hellenic Army Academy, Faculty of Physical and Cultural Education, Vari, Greece.
Ioannis
I
Giossos
Evelpidon Hellenic Army Academy, Faculty of Physical and Cultural Education, Vari, Greece.
Thrasivoulos
T
Paxinos
D003020:Clothing; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D007773:Lactates / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation; D055815:Young Adult
D007773:Lactates