Citation

Tomczak A. J. Strength Cond. Res. 2015; 29(9): 2460-2464.

Affiliation

1General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, Department of Physical Education and Sport, Warsaw, Poland 2Faculty of Physical Education and Sport in Biala Podlaska, Poland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, National Strength and Conditioning Association)

DOI

10.1519/JSC.0000000000000910

PMID

25719921

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:: Survival training of military pilots in the Polish Army gains significance because polish pilots have been taken part in more and more military missions. Prolonged exercise of moderate intensity with restricted sleep or sleep deprivation is known to deteriorate performance. The aim of the study was thus to determine the effects of a strenuous 36-h exercise with restricted sleep on selected motor coordination and psychomotor indices.

METHODS:: Thirteen military pilots aged 30 - 56 years were examined twice: pre-training and post-training. The following tests were applied: running motor adjustment (15-m sprint, 3×5-m shuttle run, 15-m slalom, 15-m squat), divided attention, dynamic body balance, handgrip strength differentiation.

RESULTS:: Survival training resulted in significant decreases in maximum handgrip strength (from 672 N to 630 N), corrected 50% max handgrip (from 427 N to 367 N), error 50% max (from 26% to 17%), 15 m sprint (from 5.01 m/s to 4.64 m/s) and 15 m squat (2.20 m/s to 1.98 m/s). The training improvements took place in divided attention test (from 48.2% to 57.2%).

CONCLUSION:: The survival training applied to pilots only moderately affected some of their motor adjustment skills, the divided attention and dynamic body balance remaining unaffected or even improved. Further studies aimed at designing a set of tests for coordination motor skills and of soldiers' capacity to fight for survival under conditions of isolation are needed.

Language: en