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Physical and cognitive performance during long-term cold weather operations.

Claudia Marrao1, Peter Tikuisis, Allan A Keefe

  • 1Laboratory for Exercise and Environmental Medicine, Health, Leisure, and Human Performance Research Institute, Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation Studies, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine
|August 23, 2005
PubMed
Summary

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Military cold weather survival training is safe for healthy individuals, with no significant impact on cognitive or physical performance. However, decreased finger dexterity in extreme cold could hinder survival tasks.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Physiology
  • Military Medicine
  • Human Performance

Background:

  • Assessing physiological and performance impacts of long-term cold exposure during military survival training.
  • Evaluating training safety and survival capability under cold conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the effects of prolonged cold exposure on physiological responses, physical performance, and cognitive function in military personnel.
  • To ascertain the safety and efficacy of cold weather survival training.

Main Methods:

  • 28 males participated in 5 nine-day winter survival courses.
  • Evaluated cognitive function (logic, planning, vigilance), physical performance (hand function, arm strength), and subjective measures (CSS, RPE, mood).
  • Monitored core body temperature (T(core)), heart rate (HR), fingertip temperature (T(finger)), and hydration status (hematocrit).

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Main Results:

  • Mean air temperatures ranged from -24.4 to 4.4°C.
  • Core body temperature and hydration remained normal; fingertip temperature decreased with falling air temperature.
  • Finger dexterity decreased by 23-28% as fingertip temperature dropped; a small (4%) but significant decrease in muscular strength was observed.
  • Cognitive function and mood were unaffected by cold or training duration.

Conclusions:

  • Healthy, fit individuals can undergo this military cold weather training without serious cognitive or physical performance decrements.
  • Adequate survival equipment, including water, supports safety during training.
  • In real survival scenarios, reduced finger dexterity poses a risk to critical survival activities.