title: Soldiers' load carriage performance in high mountains: a physiological study.
abstract: The present study was designed to evaluate load carriage performance at extremely high altitudes with different loads and walking speeds in terms of physiological evaluation. The degree of maximum oxygen consumption changes at high altitudes was also examined.
  
  
  
  Twelve Indian Army soldiers were acclimatized at altitudes of 3,505 m and 4,300 m. They walked for 10 minutes on a motorized treadmill at 2.5 km/h and 3.5 km/h speeds during carrying no loads and three magnitudes of load (10.7 kg, 21.4kg, 30 kg) at both altitudes. Physiological parameters such as oxygen consumption, energy expenditure, heart rate, and ventilation were recorded for each breath using a gas analyzer. The rating of perceived exertion was also noted after each load carriage session. Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) was measured at sea level and the two high altitudes, and respective relative workloads (% of VO2max) were calculated from oxygen consumption. Repeated measure ANOVA was applied to reveal the significant effects of the independent variables.
  
  
  
  The participants had significant reductions in VO2maxwith rising altitude. Marked increases in almost all physiological parameters were observed with increasing load, altitude, and speed. The soldiers expressed heavy perceived exertion levels with higher loads at 3.5 km/h at the two high altitudes.
  
  
  
  Considering the physiological responses, expressions of perceived exertion and changes in relative work load at both of the high altitudes Indian soldiers are advised to walk slowly with adequate rest in between their schedules and to carry not more than 32% of their body weight.
authors.affiliation: Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Defence Research & Development Organisation, Ministry of Defence, Government of India, Lucknow Road, Delhi, 110054 India.
authors.forename: Tirthankar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chatterjee
authors.affiliation: Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Defence Research & Development Organisation, Ministry of Defence, Government of India, Lucknow Road, Delhi, 110054 India.
authors.forename: Debojyoti
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bhattacharyya
authors.affiliation: Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Defence Research & Development Organisation, Ministry of Defence, Government of India, Lucknow Road, Delhi, 110054 India.
authors.forename: Anilendu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pramanik
authors.affiliation: Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Defence Research & Development Organisation, Ministry of Defence, Government of India, Lucknow Road, Delhi, 110054 India.
authors.forename: Madhusudan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.affiliation: Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Defence Research & Development Organisation, Ministry of Defence, Government of India, Lucknow Road, Delhi, 110054 India.
authors.forename: Deepti
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Majumdar
authors.affiliation: Retired from- Institute of Nuclear Medicine andAllied Sciences, Defence Research and Development Organization, Ministry of Defence, Government ofIndia, Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Dhurjati
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Majumdar
mesh_terms: D000064:Acclimatization / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009051:Mountaineering / Q000502:physiology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D012119:Respiration; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology*; D000066477:Work Performance / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: High altitude; Load carriage; Physiological responses; Walking speed