Physical assessment using a novel approach with a self-propelled treadmill for XP-Antactik explorers
- Paper number
IAC-15,A1,3,4,x30136
- Author
Mrs. Andree-Anne Parent, Université du Québec à Montréal, Canada
- Coauthor
Prof. Jean P. Boucher, University of Quebec in Montreal, Canada
- Coauthor
Prof. Alain-Steve Comtois, Université du Québec à Montréal, Canada
- Year
2015
- Abstract
Antarctica is a challenge for the human body whenever someone ventures there and requires an important physical preparation. A group of 6 explorers (3 women and 3 men; 25 ± 4 years old) participated in a 30 day complete autonomy expedition in Antarctica. The objective was to observe the physiological adaptations of the explorers in this extreme environment following physical assessment using a novel approach with a non-motorised adapted to the task self-propelled treadmill (HiTrainer, Bromont, Qc). A specific maximal aerobic test performed on both motorised and non-motorised treadmill, a grip strength test and an aerobic sub-maximal exercise (57 ± 0.01% of V02max) in cold environment( 1 ± 8 °C) were conducted before and after the expedition in the human performance laboratory at UQAM. Statistical analysis with paired samples t-test were used to compare pre- and post expedition. Pre-post expedition were significantly different for the specific VO2peak test (40 ± 3 VS 51 ± 9 ml/kg/min for men and 38 ± 2 VS 42 ± 4 ml/kg/min; p<0.05), but not for the VO2peak of the aerobic maximal test (43 ± 5 VS 47 ± 9 ml/kg/min for men and 42 ± 5 VS 44 ± 5 ml/kg/min; p>0.05 for women). Pre-Post expedition grip strength and aerobic sub-maximal exercise heart rate at control temperature did not change significantly and were 126 ± 8 VS 115 ± 14 kg for men and 78 ± 12 VS 75 ± 17 kg for women; and 121 ± 8 VS 121 ± 6 bpm for men and 130 ± 6 VS 124 ± 8 bpm; p>0.05 respectively. Similarly, at cold temperature, no significant changes were observed in pre-post expedition grip strength for men and women, respectively, 119 ± 3 VS 96 ± 11 kg and 68 ± 4 VS 69 ± 17 kg; and neither for the aerobic sub-maximal exercise heart rate 117 ± 5 VS 113 ± 8 bpm and 121 ± 6 VS 118 ± 6 bpm; p>0.05. In conclusion, the specific aerobic test appears to be a better indicator of physiological adaptation than the maximal aerobic test for an expedition in extreme environment. Furthermore, it would be interesting to use that device for physical preparation for other extreme environments, like microgravity.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
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