Physiological Responses to 12-Km Loaded March Carrying a Machine Gun or a Rifle

Authors:
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The objective was to compare physiological responses, during a 12-km march following Brazilian Army protocols, between two groups carrying different loads (personal equipment plus machine gun and personal equipment plus rifle). Additionally, we investigated whether there is a correlation between load weight, in percentage of total body mass (%TBM), and those physiological responses. The following variables were analyzed: mean heart rate, heart rate variation, blood lactate variation and mean rating of perceived exertion. The personal equipment + machine gun group presented significantly higher median values for mean heart rate and heart rate variation. Furthermore, our data showed that load (%TBM) was positively and significantly correlated with all physiological variables assessed, except for blood lactate variation. Performing long-distance load carriage with a machine gun caused greater cardiovascular effort than carrying a rifle.