title: Balancing ballistic protection against physiological strain: evidence from laboratory and field trials.
abstract: This project was based on the premise that decisions concerning the ballistic protection provided to defence personnel should derive from an evaluation of the balance between protection level and its impact on physiological function, mobility, and operational capability. Civilians and soldiers participated in laboratory- and field-based studies in which ensembles providing five levels of ballistic protection were evaluated, each with progressive increases in protection, mass (3.4-11.0 kg), and surface-area coverage (0.25-0.52 m(2)). Physiological trials were conducted on volunteers (N = 8) in a laboratory, under hot-dry conditions simulating an urban patrol: walking at 4 km·h(-1) (90 min) and 6 km·h(-1) (30 min or to fatigue). Field-based trials were used to evaluate tactical battlefield movements (mobility) of soldiers (N = 31) under tropical conditions, and across functional tests of power, speed, agility, endurance, and balance. Finally, trials were conducted at a jungle training centre, with soldiers (N = 32) patrolling under tropical conditions (averaging 5 h). In the laboratory, work tolerance was reduced as protection increased, with deep-body temperature climbing relentlessly. However, the protective ensembles could be grouped into two equally stressful categories, each providing a different level of ballistic protection. This outcome was supported during the mobility trials, with the greatest performance decrement evident during fire and movement simulations, as the ensemble mass was increased (-2.12%·kg(-1)). The jungle patrol trials similarly supported this outcome. Therefore, although ballistic protection does increase physiological strain, this research has provided a basis on which to determine how that strain can be balanced against the mission-specific level of required personal protection.
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Human and Applied Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
authors.forename: Nigel A S
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Human and Applied Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
authors.forename: Catriona A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Burdon
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Human and Applied Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
authors.forename: Anne M J
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: van den Heuvel
authors.affiliation: b Land Division, Defence Science and Technology, Melbourne VIC 3207, Australia.
authors.forename: Alison L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Fogarty
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Human and Applied Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
authors.forename: Sean R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Notley
authors.affiliation: b Land Division, Defence Science and Technology, Melbourne VIC 3207, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.affiliation: b Land Division, Defence Science and Technology, Melbourne VIC 3207, Australia.
authors.forename: Daniel C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Billing
authors.affiliation: b Land Division, Defence Science and Technology, Melbourne VIC 3207, Australia.
authors.forename: Jace R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Drain
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Human and Applied Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
authors.forename: Aaron J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Silk
authors.affiliation: b Land Division, Defence Science and Technology, Melbourne VIC 3207, Australia.
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Human and Applied Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
authors.forename: Gregory E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Peoples
mesh_terms: D044709:Forensic Ballistics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D011481:Protective Clothing; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: armure; ballistic protection; body armour; core temperature; mobility; mobilité; personal protective equipment; protection balistique; température centrale; équipement de protection individuelle