Physiological and physical performance changes during a 20-day winter military training course and its subsequent 10-day recovery period

Figures & data

Figure 1. Study design and measurement points. BC = Body Composition measurements; BL = Blood samples; PP = Physical Performance measurements.

Table 1. Weather details during the exercise.

	0–10 d	11–20 d	0–20 d
Average snow depth (cm)	92	79	85
Average daily temp (°C)	−14.5	−5.2	−9.6
Average daily max temp (°C)	−6.5	−0.7	−3.5
Average daily min temp (°C)	−22.6	−12.8	−17.5

Figure 2. Subjective rating of perceived exertion (RPE), sleep, mental, and physical demand during the last part of the military exercise.

Figure 3. Anthropometric changes during the military exercise. BM=body mass, SMM=skeletal muscle mass, FM=fat mass. * = compared to PRE-value, *=p<0.05; # = compared to MID-value, #=p<0.05; § = compared to POST-value, §=p<0.05.

Figure 4. Physical performance changes during the military exercise. MBT=medicine ball throw, SLJ=standing long jump, CMJ=counter movement jump. * = compared to PRE-value, *=p<0.05; # = compared to MID-value, #=p<0.05.

Figure 5. Biochemical changes during the military exercise. TES=testosterone, COR=cortisol, CK=creatine kinase, SHBG=sex hormone binding globulin, IGF-1=insulin like growth factor-1, CRP=c-reactive protein. * = compared to PRE-value, *=p<0.05; # = compared to MID-value, #=p<0.05; § = compared to POST-value, §=p<0.05.

Data availability statement

Data will be made available on reasonable request to the corresponding author.