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Impact of Physically Demanding Occupations on Worker Physiology, Performance, and Well-Being

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Occupational Safety and Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 July 2022) | Viewed by 22725

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Dr. Luana Main

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Guest Editor

Deakin University, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Geelong, Australia
Interests: psychophysiology; monitoring of stress and fatigue; performance management and optimization in physically demanding occupations

Dr. Jamie Tait

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Guest Editor

Deakin University, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Geelong, Australia
Interests: the capacity of physically demanding work and exercise to influence cognitive performance, physiology, and well-being within a diverse range of populations

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Now more than ever, we have a high number of workers in physically and cognitively demanding occupations, putting themselves on the frontline to provide an essential service and protect our way of life. These individuals include, but are not limited to, our emergency first responders (e.g., firefighters, paramedics, physicians, and nurses) and tactical personnel (law enforcement, military). These personnel are often required to perform physically and physiologically demanding tasks, some of which may be performed repeatedly or over prolonged durations. The acute and chronic impact of exposure to these stressors can have implications for the long-term health of these workers.

Therefore, we have an opportunity to contribute to the available knowledge on how we can best support these workers. As such, this Special Issue invites papers that contribute to increasing our understanding of:

- the demands of these roles;

- the potential implications for workers’ performance, health, and well-being; and

- potential risk mitigation strategies that could be employed to enhance a worker’s health, safety, and/or longevity in their role.

Dr. Luana Main
Dr. Jamie Tait
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

emergency first responders
stress, health, well-being, performance, and physical load
cognitive load
fatigue
personnel
risk mitigation

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 351 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Four Weeks of Beta-Alanine Supplementation Combined with One Week of Creatine Loading on Physical and Cognitive Performance in Military Personnel

by Mohammad Samadi, Ali Askarian, Hossein Shirvani, Alireza Shamsoddini, Abolfazl Shakibaee, Scott C. Forbes and Mojtaba Kaviani

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(13), 7992; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19137992 - 29 Jun 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4745

Abstract

The purpose was to investigate the effects of a 7-day creatine (Cr) loading protocol at the end of four weeks of β-alanine supplementation (BA) on physical performance, blood lactate, cognitive performance, and resting hormonal concentrations compared to BA alone. Twenty male military personnel (age: 21.5 ± 1.5 yrs; height: 1.78 ± 0.05 m; body mass: 78.5 ± 7.0 kg; BMI: 23.7 ± 1.64 kg/m²) were recruited and randomized into two groups: BA + Cr or BA + placebo (PL). Participants in each group (n = 10 per group) were supplemented with 6.4 g/day of BA for 28 days. After the third week, the BA + Cr group participants were also supplemented with Cr (0.3 g/kg/day), while the BA + PL group ingested an isocaloric placebo for 7 days. Before and after supplementation, each participant performed a battery of physical and cognitive tests and provided a venous blood sample to determine resting testosterone, cortisol, and IGF-1. Furthermore, immediately after the last physical test, blood lactate was assessed. There was a significant improvement in physical performance and mathematical processing in the BA + Cr group over time (p < 0.05), while there was no change in the BA + PL group. Vertical jump performance and testosterone were significantly higher in the BA + Cr group compared to BA + PL. These results indicate that Cr loading during the final week of BA supplementation (28 days) enhanced muscular power and appears to be superior for muscular strength and cognitive performance compared to BA supplementation alone. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Physically Demanding Occupations on Worker Physiology, Performance, and Well-Being)

10 pages, 1204 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quantification of Recruit Training Demands and Subjective Wellbeing during Basic Military Training

by Sean Bulmer, Jace R. Drain, Jamie L. Tait, Sean L. Corrigan, Paul B. Gastin, Brad Aisbett, Timo Rantalainen and Luana C. Main

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(12), 7360; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19127360 - 15 Jun 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3121

Abstract

Purpose: Assess and describe the physical demands and changes in subjective wellbeing of recruits completing the 12 week Australian Army Basic Military Training (BMT) course. Methods: Thirty-five recruits (24.8 ± 6.8 y; 177.4 ± 10.1 cm, 75.6 ± 14.7 kg) consented to daily activity monitoring and weekly measures of subjective wellbeing (Multi-component Training Distress Scale, MTDS). The physical demands of training were assessed via wrist worn activity monitors (Actigraph GT9X accelerometer). Physical fitness changes were assessed by push-ups, sit-ups and multi-stage shuttle run in weeks 2 and 8. Results: All objective and subjective measures significantly changed (p < 0.05) across the 12 week BMT course. In parallel, there was a significant improvement in measures of physical fitness from weeks 2 to 8 (p < 0.001). The greatest disturbance to subjective wellbeing occurred during week 10, which was a period of field training. Weeks 6 and 12 provided opportunities for recovery as reflected by improved wellbeing. Conclusions: The physical demands of training varied across the Australian Army 12 week BMT course and reflected the intended periodization of workload and recovery. Physical fitness improved from week 2 to 8, indicating a positive training response to BMT. Consistent with findings in sport, wellbeing measures were sensitive to fluctuations in training stress and appear to have utility for individual management of personnel in the military training environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Physically Demanding Occupations on Worker Physiology, Performance, and Well-Being)

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16 pages, 704 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Factors Predicting Training Delays and Attrition of Recruits during Basic Military Training

by Jamie L. Tait, Jace R. Drain, Sean Bulmer, Paul B. Gastin and Luana C. Main

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(12), 7271; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19127271 - 14 Jun 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3492

Abstract

Ensuring a balance between training demands and recovery during basic military training (BMT) is necessary for avoiding maladaptive training responses (e.g., illness or injury). These can lead to delays in training completion and to training attrition. Previously identified predictors of injury and attrition during BMT include demographic and performance data, which are typically collected at a single time point. The aim of this study was to determine individual risk factors for injury and training delays from a suite of measures collected across BMT. A total of 46 male and female recruits undertaking the 12-week Australian Army BMT course consented to this study. Injury, illness, attrition, and demographic data were collected across BMT. Objective measures included salivary cortisol and testosterone, step counts, cardiorespiratory fitness, and muscular endurance. Perceptions of well-being, recovery, workload, fatigue, and sleep were assessed with questionnaires. Baseline and mean scores across BMT were evaluated as predictors of injury and attrition using generalized linear regressions, while repeated-measures ANOVA was used for the group comparisons. From the 46 recruits, 36 recruits completed BMT on time; 10 were delayed in completion or discharged. Multiple risk factors for injury during BMT included higher subjective ratings of training load, fatigue, and stress, lower sleep quality, and higher cortisol concentrations. Higher ratings of depression, anxiety, and stress, and more injuries were associated with a higher risk of delayed completion. Higher concentrations of testosterone and higher levels of fitness upon entry to BMT were associated with reduced risk of injury and delayed completion of BMT. Ongoing monitoring with a suite of easily administered measures may have utility in forewarning risk of training maladaptation in recruits and may complement strategies to address previously identified demographic and performance-based risk factors to mitigate injury, training delays, and attrition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Physically Demanding Occupations on Worker Physiology, Performance, and Well-Being)

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10 pages, 573 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Short-Term Reliability of the Conceptualised ‘Combat Readiness Assessment’

by Daniel Moore, Martin Tayler and Stephen Moore

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(11), 6486; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116486 - 26 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1666

Abstract

Military fitness testing has historically assessed individual fitness components. Fitness assessments of this nature do not adequately monitor the physical requirements of military operations. The development of a more combat-specific fitness test would enhance accuracy in assessing the soldiers’ readiness for the demands of war. This study aimed to assess the short-term reliability of the conceptualised ‘Combat Readiness Assessment’ (CRA) following a single familiarisation trial with 21 male phase-two British Army Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineer (REME) recruits (age (years) 19.7 ± 2.5) split into two groups (N = 11 and 10) to conform with recruit availability. The CRA was designed to be a multifaceted fitness assessment aimed at replicating the physical demands of a combat situation for military personnel. Methods: Three repeated assessments of the CRA were completed over a 10-day period (trial one as a familiarisation) to assess the short-term reliability of the CRA post familiarisation. The CRA was completed carrying a 4 kg rifle (SA80 A2) and involved a 400 m (M) run wearing an 11 kg backpack (removed after the 400 M) followed by weighted carries, sprints, casualty drags and agility tasks. Completion time (seconds) was recorded to assess performance. Intraclass correlations (ICCs) (2,1) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), the standard error of the measurement (SEM) and the coefficient of variation (CV) were calculated for completion time for trials 1-3 (T1-3) and 2-3 (T2-3) to assess reliability post-familiarisation. Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) was calculated for T1-2 and T2-3. Descriptive statistics were calculated for completion time for T1-3 and T2-3. Results: The reliability following a familiarisation trial from T1-3 (ICC: 0.75; SEM: 7.1 s; CV: 9.97%) to T2-3 (ICC: 0.88; SEM: 6.4 s; CV: 10.05%) increased. Mean trial time decreased post familiarisation from T1-3 (210.9 ± 21.03 s) to T2-3 (206.3 ± 20.73 s). Conclusions: These findings are inconclusive regarding the short-term reliability of the CRA. The small sample size resulted in wide 95% confidence intervals associated with the ICCs, making the true ICC value hard to determine. The ICCs and MAPE suggest that the reliability of the CRA increased following a familiarisation trial, but this requires further research with a larger cohort to determine with confidence. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Physically Demanding Occupations on Worker Physiology, Performance, and Well-Being)

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14 pages, 2411 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mechanical Differences between Men and Women during Overground Load Carriage at Self-Selected Walking Speeds

by Kane Middleton, Danielle Vickery-Howe, Ben Dascombe, Anthea Clarke, Jon Wheat, Jodie McClelland and Jace Drain

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(7), 3927; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19073927 - 25 Mar 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2965

Abstract

Few studies have directly compared physical responses to relative loading strategies between men and women during overground walking. This study aimed to compare gait mechanics of men and women during overground load carriage. A total of 30 participants (15 male, 15 female) completed three 10-min walking trials while carrying external loads of 0%, 20% and 40% of body mass at a self-selected walking speed. Lower-body motion and ground reaction forces were collected using a three-dimensional motion capture system and force plates, respectively. Female participants walked with a higher cadence (p = 0.002) and spent less absolute time in stance (p = 0.010) but had similar self-selected walking speed (p = 0.750), which was likely due to the female participants being shorter than the male participants. Except for ankle plantarflexion moments, there were no sex differences in spatiotemporal, kinematic, or kinetic variables (p > 0.05). Increasing loads resulted in significantly lower self-selected walking speed, greater stance time, and changes in all joint kinematics and kinetics across the gait cycle (p < 0.05). In conclusion, there were few differences between sexes in walking mechanics during overground load carriage. The changes identified in this study may inform training programs to increase load carriage performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Physically Demanding Occupations on Worker Physiology, Performance, and Well-Being)

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18 pages, 1823 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Association between Endogenous Hair Steroid Hormones and Social Environmental Factors in a Group of Conscripts during Basic Military Training

by Asta Mažeikienė, Svajone Bekesiene, Dovilė Karčiauskaitė, Eglė Mazgelytė, Gerry Larsson, Tomas Petrėnas, Andrius Kaminskas, Jurgita Songailienė, Algirdas Utkus, Ramutė Vaičaitienė and Rasa Smaliukienė

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(22), 12239; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182212239 - 22 Nov 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2293

Abstract

This study aimed to analyse the association between endogenous hair steroid hormones as reliable biological indicators of an individual’s stress level and the social environmental factors experienced during military training that are manifested at the beginning of compulsory military service. Hair steroid hormone concentrations—cortisol, cortisone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and testosterone—in a group of 185 conscripts were measured using the ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. Six subjective social environmental factors in the military—attitude towards the military and military service, adaptation to the military environment, team, task, and norm cohesion, as well as psychological (un)safety in the group—were evaluated using military-specific research questionnaires. Weak but significant negative correlations were identified between cortisol and adaptation (r = −0.176, p < 0.05), attitude (r = −0.147, p < 0.05) as well as between testosterone and task cohesion (r = −0.230, p < 0.01) levels. Additionally, a multiple forward stepwise regression analysis highlighted that cortisone variation might be partially explained by task cohesion; the DHEA—determined by psychological (un)safety in the group, attitude towards the military and military service, and norm cohesion; and the testosterone—determined by task cohesion and adaptation to the new military environment. The results of this study suggest that subjective measures of social factors can be used to predict hair steroid hormone levels as objective measures of the chronic stress perceived by conscripts during their basic military training. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Physically Demanding Occupations on Worker Physiology, Performance, and Well-Being)

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9 pages, 870 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Personal Protective Equipment on Wildland Firefighters’ Physiological Response and Performance during the Pack Test

by Belén Carballo-Leyenda, Jorge Gutiérrez-Arroyo, Fabio García-Heras, Pilar Sánchez-Collado, José G. Villa-Vicente and Jose A. Rodríguez-Marroyo

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(10), 5050; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105050 - 11 May 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2763

Abstract

The Pack Test (PT) is a widely used test to establish readiness for work in wildland firefighting. It is common to perform this test dressed in regular exercise clothing. However, wildland firefighters (WFF) have to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) during their deployments, which increases the physiological strain and reduces their work capacity. This study aimed to analyse the impact of full PPE on PT performance. Nine male professional WFF performed in random order a PT walking at the fastest possible self-pace wearing two different clothing configurations: (i) traditional short sports gear (SG) and (ii) the PPE currently used by Spanish WFF. Heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion and lap time were recorded during the PT. In addition, oxygen uptake (VO₂) was estimated through the individual VO₂–HR relationship previously obtained during a graded exercise test. There was a significant decrease in the PT performance (i.e., completion time) (~12%, p < 0.05) in PPE. The physiological demands with this configuration were significantly higher (~10%, p < 0.05). WFF spent ~13 min above the anaerobic threshold in PPE vs. ~4 min in SG. A multiple stepwise regression analysis revealed that PT performance variation might be explained by the maximal aerobic velocity (84.5%) in PPE and the VO_2max (75.9%) in SG. In conclusion, wearing complete PPE increases WFF’s physiological strain, which translates into a significant PT performance reduction. Performing the test walking at the fastest possible self-pace wearing the PPE would better reflect the high-intensity effort periods reported in real scenarios. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Physically Demanding Occupations on Worker Physiology, Performance, and Well-Being)

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