Ready for Combat, Psychophysiological Modifications in a Close-Quarter Combat Intervention After an Experimental Operative High-Intensity Interval Training.

ABSTRACT: Tornero-Aguilera, JF, Fernandez-Elias, VE, and Clemente-Suárez, VJ. Ready for combat, psychophysiological modifications in a close-quarter combat intervention after an experimental operative HIIT. J Strength Cond Res 36(3): 732-737, 2022-This study aimed to analyze the effect of an experimental operative high-intensity interval training (HIIT) program on the psychophysiological response of soldiers in a close-quarter combat (CQC) intervention. The psychophysiological response of 22 professional soldiers in a CQC before and after an experimental 2-week operative HIIT was analyzed. Training intervention produced a significant increase in blood lactate, isometric hand-grip strength, perceived stress, rates of perceived exertion, anxiety response, heart rate, and autonomic sympathetic modulation and a significant decrease in cortical arousal requirements. An experimental operative high-intensity interval training produced an increase on the psychophysiological operativity for CQC scenarios, increasing the sympathetic and physiological response and decreasing the cortical arousal requirement of soldiers.

Implications of surgical mask use in physical education lessons.

COVID-19 is being a huge challenge for education systems. Mandatory use of face masks in presential classes may lead to psychophysiological impairment of students, which affect lessons. Thus, the aim of the present research was to analyze the effect of mask use in basal psychophysiological status of physical education students prior to a physical education lesson. We analyzed 72 physical education students in two moments prior to two physical education lessons with 48 h between them. Blood oxygen saturation, body, temple and face temperatures, perceived stress and exertion, and heart rate variability were measured. Results showed that the use of surgical masks in physical education students produced a significant increase on subjective stress perception, sympathetic modulation, cardiovascular response, face, and temple temperature while decreasing blood oxygen saturation. We concluded that the use of surgical masks by physical education students induce modifications on the organic status, which could represent a handicap compromising the academic objectives of physical education lessons. This information can help teachers design efficient physical education lessons.

Psychophysiological response of military pilots in different combat flight maneuvers in a flight simulator.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the psychophysiological response during takeoff, landing, air-air attack and air-ground attack maneuvers. METHODS: A total of 11 expert pilots (age=33.36 (5.37)) from the Spanish Air Force participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants had to complete in a flight simulator the following missions: 1) takeoff; 2) Air-air attack; 3) Air-Ground attack, and 4) Landing. The electroencephalographic activity (EEG) and heart rate variability (HRV) were collected during all these maneuvers. RESULTS: Significant higher values of theta (during takeoff, air-air attack and air-ground attack) EEG power spectrum were obtained when compared to baseline. Significant difference in the P3 scalp location was observed between landing and takeoff maneuvers in the beta EEG power spectrum. Furthermore, significant lower values of HRV were obtained during takeoff, landing, air-air attack and air-ground attack when compared to baseline values. Also, landing showed a higher sympathetic response when compared to takeoff maneuver. CONCLUSION: Takeoff, landing, air-air attack or air-ground attack maneuvers performed in a flight simulator produced significant changes in the electroencephalographic activity and autonomic modulation of professional pilots. Beta EEG power spectrum modifications suggest that landing maneuvers induced more attentional resources than takeoff. In the same line, a reduced HRV during landing was obtained when compared to takeoff. These results should be considered to training purposes.

Impact of Real and Simulated Flights on Psychophysiological Response of Military Pilots.

OBJECTIVE: The present research aimed to analyse the autonomic, anxiety, perceived exertion, and self-confidence response during real and simulated flights. METHODS: This cross-sectional study participated 12 experienced male pilots (age = 33.08 (5.21)) from the Spanish Air Force. Participants had to complete a real and a simulated flight mission randomly. The heart rate variability (HRV), anxiety, self-confidence, and rating of perceived exertion were collected before and after both manoeuvres, and HRV was also collected during both simulated and real flights. RESULTS: When studying the acute effects of real and simulated flights, the mean heart rate, the R-to-R interval, the cognitive anxiety and the perceived exertion were significantly impacted only by real flights. Furthermore, significant differences in the mean heart rate and RR interval were found when compared to the acute effects of real and simulated flights (with higher acute effects observed in real flights). Additionally, when compared the HRV values during simulated and real flights, significant differences were observed in the RR and heart rate mean (with lower RR interval and higher heart rate mean observed during real flights). CONCLUSION: Real flights significantly reduced the RR interval and cognitive anxiety while increased the heart rate mean and the rating of perceived exertion, whereas simulated flights did not induce any significant change in the autonomic modulation.

Airsoft: an efficient and motivating cardiovascular training choice.

BACKGROUND: Obesity and sedentarism have reached pandemic levels, postulating World Health Organization physical exercise as an important key factor for the prevention and treatment. In order to find a motivating and effective physical activity, we conducted this research intending to analyze the physiological and mechanical demands of an airsoft game. METHODS: Cardiovascular and mechanical activity were analyzed by heart rate monitors and GPS in 32 sedentary subjects (27.3±6.2 years; 26.3±7.9 BMI). RESULTS: Participants performed moderate to vigorous aerobic intensity for 3 hours and 20 min of which 55.2% was between 60-70% of their maximal heart rate and 14.2% above 70% of it, turned into distance 9.5 km of which 91.5% was moderate and 8.5% vigorous intensity. CONCLUSIONS: A single airsoft game performed by sedentary subject exceed the international recommendation of physical activity and weekly physical activity of US adults' citizens. This motivating and outdoor activity is an effective alternative to increase the population's physical activity levels.

Gut Microbiota Modification: Another Piece in the Puzzle of the Benefits of Physical Exercise in Health?

Regular physical exercise provides many health benefits, protecting against the development of chronic diseases, and improving quality of life. Some of the mechanisms by which exercise provides these effects are the promotion of an anti-inflammatory state, reinforcement of the neuromuscular function, and activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Recently, it has been proposed that physical exercise is able to modify gut microbiota, and thus this could be another factor by which exercise promotes well-being, since gut microbiota appears to be closely related to health and disease. The purpose of this paper is to review the recent findings on gut microbiota modification by exercise, proposing several mechanisms by which physical exercise might cause changes in gut microbiota.