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Warfighter Adrenal Response to Extreme Military Stress

Szivak, Tunde K.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1469158477

Abstract Details

2016, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Kinesiology.
Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) school is a challenging military training course that is required for military members in high-risk professions. During SERE, servicemembers learn valuable survival skills and are put through a captivity experience. However, the effects of SERE training on physical performance remain undetermined. The purpose of this research study was to evaluate the endocrine response and acute performance aspects in a group of warfighters undergoing SERE training. 20 men (Age: 25.3 ± 3.6 years; Height: 178.1 ± 6.1 cm; Weight: 83.7 ± 12.6 kg) who were members of the United States Navy and Marines took part in the study. Blood samples were obtained on three separate test days (T1: baseline assessment, T2: stress assessment; T3: recovery assessment) beginning at 18:00 hours. Blood was analyzed for plasma epinephrine (EPI), plasma norepinephrine (NOREPI), plasma dopamine (DOPA), total plasma catecholamines (TOTAL CATS), serum cortisol (C), serum testosterone (T), and plasma neuropeptide Y (NPY). Subjects also performed a vertical jump test and handgrip test at T1 and T2. As expected, stress hormone concentrations (EPI, NOREPI, DOPA, TOTAL CATS and C) were significantly elevated (p = 0.05) at T2 after the most stressful phase of the military training course. Testosterone concentrations were significantly reduced at T2, as was bodyweight. Unexpectedly, NPY concentrations were elevated at baseline (T1), did not increase at T2, but deceased sharply at T3. Physical fitness was found to have a significant influence on NOREPI concentrations (F(1,18) = 4.43, p = .050). This study was one of the first to document the physical performance responses to SERE training. The study revealed that despite the cumulative effects of sleep deprivation, food restriction and highly stressful training scenarios that resulted in significant increases in stress hormone concentrations and a significant decrease in body mass (5.2 ± 1.2 kg) over the course of SERE training, subjects were able to maintain performance on the vertical jump and handgrip test. This suggests that elevations in catecholamines during highly stressful training may offset the physical performance decline caused by cumulative stressors in a harsh training environment. Furthermore, more fit individuals may respond differentially under conditions of extreme stress, with quicker recovery of catecholamine responses to normal resting concentrations. This suggests that physical fitness may be an important factor contributing to resilience during stressful military training. In conclusion, this study revealed that although individuals with higher physical fitness had a differential catecholamine response, the SERE training course resulted in significant increases in stress hormone concentrations in all subjects regardless of physical fitness level.
William Kraemer (Advisor)
Carl Maresh (Committee Member)
Jeff Volek (Committee Member)
Brian Focht (Committee Member)
92 p.
Endocrinology; Health Sciences; Military Studies
Military, adrenal, stress, survival

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Szivak, T. K. (2016). Warfighter Adrenal Response to Extreme Military Stress [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1469158477

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Szivak, Tunde. Warfighter Adrenal Response to Extreme Military Stress. 2016. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1469158477.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Szivak, Tunde. "Warfighter Adrenal Response to Extreme Military Stress." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1469158477

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1469158477
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.