The Biochemical and Physiological Effects of 95 Days Endurance Exercise in Negative Energy Balance
Abstract
In times of war, men push themselves to physical limits well beyond those that are conventionally thought possible, and hence it is extremely difficult to predict the limits of endurance capabilities using laboratory based studies. Of course, studies can be performed examining military exercises, although motivation levels may not be maximal and it is perhaps better to study rigorous military selection processes, where intense competition maximizes the psychological drives. This approach has been utilized successfully by several groups. For shorter-term activities, it is also possible to study athletic performance which provides measures of sustainable levels of physical effort with some degree of military relevance, since athletes are very highly motivated. In the case of ultra-distance competitors, there is even the potential to assess physical performance and its decline over several days, and hence studies of these events should be encouraged in the context of furthering our understanding of exhaustive military Operations. However, when it comes to investigation of likely physical performance over very extended exhaustive activities, it becomes increasingly difficult to find potential study models which combine sustained physical work with the kind of motivation levels that would occur in potential life threatening wartime situations. It is in this context, that I believe that studies of prolonged Polar, or other expeditions can be of value.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADP010656
Entities
People
- M. A. Stroud