Auxiliary Device to Alleviate Soldiers' Backload

Medical Corps, Israel Defense Force12 enrolled

Overview

Combat soldiers are required to perform under strenuous physical conditions; hence, their physical fitness is a crucial factor in their survivability. The Auxiliary Device- "Minkal", is suggested (by its manufactures) to be able to reduce the soldiers' physiological strain by lowering the absolute load being carried by the soldier. As a result, it may improve the soldier's physiological abilities and performance through enduring missions with heavy loads, and may lead to better protection on the soldier from overuse injuries.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Physiological Strain of Weight Bearing.

Interventions

"Minkal"- Auxiliary device to alleviate backloadDEVICE

The participants will undergo 6 days of study. The first day of the study include medical examination, maximal oxigen consumption day and anthropometric mesurments. Then The participants will undergo heat tolerance test 5 times (in different days). first day- without load. second day- with back load of 40% of the body weight. third day- with back load of 40% of the body weight and the Auxilairy Device. fourth day- with back load of 60% of the body weight. fifth day- with back load of 60% of the body weight and the Auxilairy Device. The rectal temperature, skin teperature and heart rate will be mesured each day and compered afterwards.

Eligibility

Sex: MALEMin age: 21 YearsMax age: 28 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Healthy subjects without any of the following: chronic background diseases, cardiovascular, lung or respiratory, heat stroke history, headaches,psychiatric background, musculoskeletal problems, and without drugs use. * Lack of any acute disease during 2 weeks prior the study. * Subjects will give their written consent for participating the study after being informed by the study's physician about the study's aims, importance and the possible risks. Exclusion Criteria: * Rectal temperature above 39 Celsius degrees. * HR above maximal HR ( calculated as 220-age) * The subject's will to stop the test. * The researcher's/doctor's judgment.

Locations (1)

Institute of military physiology

Ramat Gan, Israel

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Physiological Load with and without the auxiliary device

The physiological load will be measured using a heat tolerance test(HTT). Each paricipant will undergo a HTT 5 times (in different days). first day- without load. second day- with back load of 40% of the body weight. third day- with back load of 40% of the body weight and the Auxilairy Device. fourth day- with back load of 60% of the body weight. fifth day- with back load of 60% of the body weight and the Auxilairy Device. The rectal temperature, skin teperature and heart rate will be mesured in each HTT and compered afterwards to assess the physiological load.

Time frame: 6 days for each patient.

Secondary Outcomes

Rectal temperature

The Rectal temperature will be mesured by a rectal thermistore during each HTT.

Time frame: 6 days

Skin temperature

The Skin temperature will be mesured by skin thermistores on three sites (chest, leg and arm).

Time frame: 6 days

Heart Rate

Heart rate will be monitored using a polar watch.

Time frame: 6 days

Sweat Rate

Sweat rate will be calculated from the patient's weight and his water balance.

Time frame: 6 days

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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