Research Paper Title
Predicting the Metabolic Cost of Walking while Wearing Explosive Ordnance Disposal Protective Clothing.
Introduction
The use of improvised explosive devices (IED) is becoming more prevalent in modern warfare, civil unrest and lone wolf terrorism. This has led to a greater role for explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians to neutralise the threat of IED detonations. As such, the inherent risk to EOD technicians requires them to don a heavy (~34 kg) protective ensemble that subsequently increases the metabolic demand of tasks, such as locomotion. Previous research into the metabolic cost of protective clothing has focused primarily on chemical and fire ensembles. Currently little is known about the metabolic cost of EOD protective clothing. The purpose of this investigation was 1) to quantify the metabolic demand when wearing an EOD ensemble at various speeds of locomotion and 2) establish whether the Pandolf predictive formula is appropriate to estimate of EOD energy expenditure.
Methods
Seven males (mean(SD) 26 (4) years, 1.82 (0.05) m, 83.7 (10.0) kg, 4.3 (0.4 L.min-1) completed six treadmill walking trials at 2.5, 4 and 5.5 km.h-1 (1 % grade) while wearing normal athletic clothing (CON) or an EOD-9 military ensemble (EOD) in a randomised order. Steady state oxygen consumption (6th to 8th minute) was measured to determine the metabolic cost. Observed energy expenditure was also compared to those predicted using Pandolf’s formula.
Discussion
This study suggests that a strong correlation (r 2 = 0.97) is present between observed and predicted EOD energy expenditure. Although, due to the constant under-estimation of the predictive formula based on traditional load carriage (i.e. backpack) it may be necessary to make adjustments to the predictive formula to account for the variation in load carriage while wearing the EOD ensemble. For example, the distribution of load around the body, potentially changes gait mechanics due to ensemble size/thickness and increased friction of locomotion.
Conclusion
The largest differences in energy expenditure were seen at the fastest speed and although strong correlations are present between observed and predicted EOD energy expenditure, the formula significantly underestimated the metabolic cost of walking in an EOD ensemble at every speed tested.
Reference
Bach, A., Borg, D., Costello, J. & Stewart, I. (2015) Predicting the Metabolic Cost of Walking while Wearing Explosive Ordnance Disposal Protective Clothing. Extreme Physiology and Medicine. 4(Suppl 1), pp.A78. DOI: 10.1186/2046-7648-4-S1-A78.
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