title: Psycho-physiological response in an automatic parachute jump.
abstract: Parachute jump is an extreme activity that elicits an intense stress response that affects jumpers' body systems being able to put them at risk. The present research analysed modifications in blood oxygen saturation (BOS), heart rate (HR), cortisol, glucose, lactate, creatine kinase (CK), muscles strength, cortical arousal, autonomic modulation, pistol magazine reload time (PMRT) and state anxiety before and after an automatic open parachute jump in 38 male Spanish soldiers (25.6 ± 5.9 years). A MANOVA with samples as a fixed factor and Effect Size (ES) were conducted. MANOVA showed (Wilks lambda = .225; F = 5.980; P = .000) a significantly increase in cortisol (6.2 ± 3.2 vs. 8.2 ± 4.3 nmol/l; P = .025; ES = .47), HR (75.0 ± 14.6 vs. 87.4 ± 17.3 bpm; P = .004; ES = .72), lactate (1.8 ± 1.2 vs. 4.4 ± 2.2 mmol · l-1; P = .002; ES = 1.18), sympathetic nervous system and leg strength manifestation after the parachute jump. By contrary BOS, PMRT (55.6 ± 27.6 vs. 48.0 ± 16.7 s; P = .021; ES = .46) and somatic anxiety (SA), evaluated by CSAI2R questionnaire, decreased. An automatic parachute jump increased physiological and cortical response and decreased SA of participants. This stress response can affect the jumpers' abilities and allow us to have a better understanding of the organism stress response and to improve training for both military and sport parachute jumps.
authors.affiliation: a Study Centre in Applied Combat (CESCA) , Toledo , Spain.|b Department of Sport Science , European University of Madrid , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: Vicente Javier
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Clemente-Suárez
authors.affiliation: a Study Centre in Applied Combat (CESCA) , Toledo , Spain.|c Light Forces Head Quarter of the Spanish Army , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: José Juan
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Robles-Pérez
authors.affiliation: d Biomedical Science School , European University of Madrid , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fernández-Lucas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety; D001359:Aviation; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D009048:Motor Skills; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Stress; anxiety; autonomic modulation; cortisol; military; parachute jump