The effect of NBC garments on five aerobic fitness parameters in male Military trainees.

present investigation aimed to study the effects of wearing NBC garments with and without a face mask and impermeable rubber suits on five parameters of aerobic fitness: cardiopulmonary endurance, speed or velocity, agility, flexibility and the number of sit ups. It was a quasi– experimental study recruiting 60 volunteer male trainees. Their mean age, height, and weight were 24.59 years, 174.95, cm, and 69.72 kg, respectively. The volunteers were randomly allocated to 4 groups: A to D and pre and post–tests were performed. All individuals in all groups were wearing normal combat clothing (NCC) in the pre–tests. In the post–tests however, standard NBC garments without (C) and with (B) a facemask, NCC (A) and impermeable rubber suit (D) were worn. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and student t–test. P values less than 0.05 was considered as significant. Results indicated that in group C, where standard NBC garments were used, only the cardiopulmonary endurance parameter was significantly affected. However impermeable rubber suits repressed the speed of physical activity and not other parameters.