PHYSIOLOGICAL-EFFECTS OF WEARING HEAVY BODY ARMOR ON MALE SOLDIERS

The effect of wearing two widely used body armours (BA) weighing 9.0 k g and 11.0 kg by the security personnel in India was evaluated. Six ma le soldiers underwent treadmill exercise in the laboratory (26-28 degr ees C) at a fixed speed of 2.2 m.sec(-1) for 10 minutes with and witho ut wearing the 11.0 kg BA over their regular uniform. Six other soldie rs were exposed to a hot humid climatic chamber (34 degrees C Wet Bulb Globe Temperature/60% relative humidity) with and without 11.0 kg BA for one hour with light physical exercise. Pulmonary function test was conducted on 16 soldiers with 9.0 kg, 11.0 kg BA and without it. The heart rate (HR), minute ventilation ((V) over dot(E)) and oxygen uptak e (VO2) on wearing the 11.0 kg BA increased significantly (p < 0.01) a s compared to the values of without wearing it in treadmill exercise. The difference in magnitude being 15 beats.min(-1), 9.4 1.min(-1) and 6.0 ml.kg(-1)min(-1) respectively, for HR, ((V) over dot(E)) and VO2. In hot humid exposure the HR and mean skin temperature (<(T)over bar ( S)>) with 11.0 kg BA also increased significantly (p < 0.05) as compar ed to without wearing it during exercise. Pulmonary functions deterior ated significantly with wearing BA and recorded further decrease with increase in weight of the armour. The significant increase in energy c ost of physical task, increase cardiovascular strain in hot humid expo sure and increase restrictive ventilatory effect which have been found when BA is worn have important practical implications. It is expected that the BA wearer would develop early onset of fatigue if they are t o carry out the same task at the same rate as before without wearing B A. These factors need due consideration when planning work/rest cycles of BA wearer placed in demanding and/or endurance type of tasks.