Cadets' swimming and running performance with and without a combat uniform

摘要

Introduction: The aim was to examine whether a combat uniform (CU) influences the cadet' s exercise performance in and out of the water. Methods: Fourteen male Army Officer cadets performed on 6 separate days: 1) a maximal 400-m freestyle swimming trial; 2) a 4 × 50-m all-out freestyle swimming trial with 10 s rest in between; 3) a 50-m swim obstacle course with a CU (CUS ); 4) a 50-m swim obstacle course without a CU (NUS ); 5) a 1000-m track run with a CU (CU R ); and 6) a 1000-m track run without a CU (NUR ). In each trial, performance time, oxygen uptake ( V? O 2 ), lactate concentration ([La]), and capillary oxygen saturation (Sp O 2 ) were recorded. Results: The mean performance time was 44.3±3.1 s and 33.4±1.8 s in CUS and NUS trials, respectively. Peak V? O 2 was similar in CUS , NUS , and 400 m (CUS : 59.1± 1.1 ml.kg-1.min -1 , NUS : 57.3 ± 2.1 ml.kg-1.min -1 , 400 m: 58.2±1.6 ml.kg-1.min -1 ). [La] was higher in CUS than in NUS (CUS : 10.0± 2.0 mmol.L -1 , NUS : 8.5 ± 1.8 mmol.L -1 ), but it was lower in CUS and NUS than during the 400 m and 4 × 50 m. Sp O 2 was lower ( ; 4.5%) in CUS than NUS. No differences were observed between running trials. Conclusions: The results suggest that the use of CU during swimming tasks induces high demands for energy and, thus, leads to a significant impairment of the swimming performance of the cadets. However, the influence of the CUSeems to be less crucial during dry land running performance.