Effect of Combat Stress in the Psychophysiological Response of Elite and Non-Elite Soldiers

Abstract

We aimed to analyse the effect of combat stress in the psychophysiological responses of elite and non-elite soldiers. We analysed heart rate, cortical arousal, skin temperature, blood lactate concentration and lower body muscular strength before and after a tactical combat simulation in 40 warfighters divided in two groups: elite (n: 20; 28.5 ± 6.38 years) and non-elite (n:20; 31.94 ± 6.24 years) group. Elite presented a significantly higher lactate concentration after combat than non elite soldiers (3.8 ± 1.5 vs 6.6 ± 1.3 mmol/L). Non-elite soldiers had a higher heart rate pre and post the simulation than elite (82.9 ± 12.3 vs 64.4 ± 11. pre non elite and elite respectively; 93.0 ± 12.8 vs 88 ± 13.8 bpm post non elite and elite respectively). Elite soldiers presented higher lower muscular strength than elite in all test and before and after the combat simulation. Cortical arousal was not modified significantly in both groups. We conclude elite soldiers presented in combat a higher anaerobic metabolism activation and muscular strength than non-elite soldiers, but cardiovascular, cortical, and muscular strength manifestation presented the same response in both elite and non-elite soldiers.

Higher use of techniques studied and performance in melee combat produce a higher psychophysiological stress response

“…The exposition to this stressful context elicited an increase in phylogenetic survival system activating the fight‐or‐flight response defence system (Clemente‐Suárez et al, ; Clemente‐Suárez & Robles‐Pérez, ), being this activation independently of the group performance. This result is in consonance with previous studies that found no differences between experienced and novel soldiers and paratroopers, and between elite and non‐elite soldiers (Clemente‐Suárez et al, ; Clemente‐Suárez, Robles‐Pérez, & Fernández‐Lucas, ; Tornero‐Aguilera et al, ). The HPG showed a higher metabolic activation than LPG because blood lactate presented significant higher values.…”

“…Regarding the analysis of the different situations of the melee combat simulation, we found a higher cardiovascular response of HPG in the situations promethium, fact that could be contradictory with traditional stress theories, but novel studies found higher physiological response in high performance militaries in combat (Tornero‐Aguilera et al, ), fact related with higher fitness level that led them to reach higher physiological outcomes and higher performance. In the present research, the significantly higher use of studied techniques (instinctive and basic techniques, with a technical component as low as possible for better learning) by the HPG allows them to obtain a higher task performance even with higher HR, because the low technical requirement allows it.…”

“…In order to complete the Objective 1, before and immediately after the simulation, the following parameters were measured in the following order as in previous studies (Clemente‐Suárez et al, ; Clemente‐Suárez et al, ; Clemente‐Suárez et al, ; R. Delgado‐Moreno et al, ; Sánchez‐Molina et al, ; Tornero‐Aguilera et al, ): Rated of perceived exertion by the Borg 6–20 scale Stress subjective perception by a 0–100 scale. Body temperature (BT) with a digital infrared thermometer (Temp Touch; Xilas Medical, San Antonio, TX). Blood oxygen saturation (BOS) and HR by a pulse oximeter (PO 30 Beurer Medical). Blood lactate concentration taking a sample of 5‐μl capillary blood from a finger of subjects and analysed with the Lactate Pro Arkay, Inc. system (Kyoto, Japan). Cortical arousal trough the Critical Flicker Fusion Threshold (CFFT) in a viewing chamber (Lafayette Instrument Flicker Fusion Control Unit Model 12021) following the procedures conducted in previous studies (Fuentes et al, ). Lower body muscular strength manifestation by means of a vertical jump test. We used the Sensorize FreePowerJump system (SANRO Electromedicina, Madrid, Spain), which recorded flight time (s) and jump height (cm) to evaluate three vertical types of jump.…”

“…Then the melee technics training is a pillar in police and military personnel. The study of psychophysiological response in combat situations, specifically in military and police populations, showed an increase in stress response that causes an anxiety state, decreased cortical arousal, and central nervous system fatigue (Clemente‐Suárez et al, ; Clemente‐Suárez, Delgado‐Moreno, González‐Gómez, & Robles‐Pérez, ; Clemente‐Suarez & Robles‐Pérez, ; Clemente‐Suarez, Robles‐Pérez, Herrera‐Mendoza, Herrera‐Tapias, & Fernández‐Lucas, ; Sánchez‐Molina et al, ; Tornero‐Aguilera, Robles‐Pérez, & Clemente‐Suárez, ). The anxiety response increases the allocation of attention to threat‐related stimuli reducing attentional focus and negatively affect working memory (Delgado‐Moreno, Robles‐Pérez, & Clemente‐Suárez, ).…”

Effectiveness of an applied high intensity interval training as a specific operative training

“…Actual military training is based in traditional long distance and low intensity training, parameter that do not correspond with the psychophysiological response in actual theater of operations. To the best of our knowledge there are no previous studies that analyzed current training that complied with the combat requirement as is the High-intensity interval training (HIIT), training method recommended by previous specific literature for military training [5,11,12].Then, the aim of this study was to analyze the effect of an operative HIIT in the psychophysiological response and shooting performance of professional soldiers. We considered that an operative HIIT would achieve similar psychophysical response than evaluated in combat simulations by previous studies.…”