The effect of equipment on the functional state and performance of servicemen with different body composition

BACKGROUND: The development of an individual approach to planning the mass of equipment for each individual serviceman, taking into account the indicators of the component composition of the body and the preferences of servicemen, can in the future increase the level of effectiveness of combat operations by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

AIM: Determine the effect of the mass of equipment on the functional state and performance of military personnel, depending on the indicators of the component composition of the body.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 140 volunteers, practically healthy male cadets of the Military Medical Academy aged 21 to 25 years. After bioimpedancemetry, all subjects were divided into two groups depending on the values of their fat mass. Next, the influence of equipment on the functional state of the body of cadets was determined using a step test.

RESULTS: The presence of a predominantly moderate positive correlation between the absolute, relative values of fat mass, BMI values and indicators of total power during the tests performed under the conditions of the work performed at loads of 0.5 (R-criterion values were 0.574–0.693) and 1 W/kg (R-criterion values were 0.624–0.681) without equipment. A similar correlation was found between the absolute, relative values of fat mass and indicators of total power during the test with a load of 1 W/kg (R-criterion values were 0.534–0.547) in equipment.

CONCLUSION: The obtained results suggest that the increase in weight load caused by equipment in individuals with a fat mass of more than 11 kg, both at rest and under conditions of moderate physical activity with a power of 1 W/kg, to a greater extent causes stress on functional systems, expressed in changes in most cardiorespiratory and metabolic parameters, compared with individuals with a lower fat mass.