None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The aim of the study is to explore the impact of military land transit on the physical performance of dismounted combatants. Participants will be required to complete a number of physical performance tests prior to and following a two hour exposure to simulated military land transit. Participants are required to complete the following battery of tests prior to and following the two hour exposure; drop jump, 20m sprint, reactive agility, arm-hand steadiness, isometric deadlift, and sit and reach test. Data collected in a previous study identified a number of tasks regularly performed by ADF infantry personnel following dismount that rely on aspects of an individuals physical abilities to successful complete. As such the battery of tests was design to assess the physical attributes that underpin each of the tasks. The two hour exposure will consist of one of four conditions; seated no harness, seated with harness, seated with harness and 1st class road conditions, seated with harness and cross country conditions. Data collected in the previously mentioned study indicated that the Bushmaster PMV is the most commonly used vehicle by ADF infantry personnel and as such accelerometer data collected from a Bushmaster PMV in transit was used to generate a military land transit simulation. In addition participants of the previous study indicated that the most common duration of land transit was two hours and whilst in transit they would regularly secure themselves into place using the built in seat harness. This data resulted in the design of the four two hour exposure groups. In addition to the physical performance tests, participants will have a number of electrodes positioned on their person to measure the muscle activity of the following muscles; glute medius, external obliques, and longissiums. It is postulated that the data collected will indicate if the two hour land transit exposure impacts the muscle activity providing insight into the mechanisms responsible for any changes in performance.
Interventions
Participants will be exposed to one of four exposure conditions lasting 120 minutes. Each condition will take place with the participant seated on a seat taken from a Bushmaster PMV. In order to reproduce the forces experienced during military land transit the seat will be located atop a CKAS 6 degree of freedom simulation platform. This platform will be located within the biomechanics laboratory within the University of South Australia, and has been calibrated to accurately reproduce the record
Participants will be exposed to one of four exposure conditions lasting 120 minutes. Each condition will take place with the participant seated on a seat taken from a Bushmaster PMV. In order to reproduce the forces experienced during military land transit the seat will be located atop a CKAS 6 degree of freedom simulation platform. This platform will be located within the biomechanics laboratory within the University of South Australia, and has been calibrated to accurately reproduce the recorded forces experienced during military land transit. The whole intervention will be administered by the lead researcher (Thomas Debenedictis) with the groups consisting of: Negative control group – participants will not be required to be secured to the seat with the use of the seat harness. There will be no vibrational forces Positive control group – Participants will be secured with the use of the harness attached to the seat for the duration of the exposure. There will be no vibrational forces. Simulation of a 1st class road group – Participants will be exposed to a period of simulated transit that will represent a 1st class road (paved highway) and be secured to the seat with the use of seat harness Simulation of a cross country road - participants will be exposed to a period of simulated transit that will represent a cross country conditions and be secured to the seat with the use of seat harness
Sponsors
University of South Australia
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Educational / counselling / training
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
Male
Age
18 Years to 24 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Both the general population and Australian Defence Force cohorts will be required to meet the same inclusion criteria allow. Matching both cohorts demographically and in terms of their physiological fitness will allow for comparison between cohorts. All participants will have to meet the following criteria: Male Aged 18-24 Injury free within the last 6 months Able to complete ADF physical performance entry tests All participants will be required to perform a familiarisation session and the testing protocol.
Exclusion criteria
Not in the 18-24 age range Injured during the last 6 months Unable to complete the ADF physical performance entry test
Outcome results
None listed