Effect of protective chemical clothing on physiological strain index

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of physical activity with NBC protective clothing and military work clothes on physiological strain index (PSI). The sample of this semi experimental study was consisted of thirty healthy male students or soldiers who were 18-25 years old. Their general health status had been assessed and they completed the informed consent form. They did physical activity according to Bruce protocol on treadmill with the use of random allocation for the priority of the use of coatings. Hemodynamic variables were measured and recorded before, after and five minutes after physical activity. After the end of physical activity, physiological stress index was calculated using heart rate and body core temperature rate. Data were analyzed using SPSS 11.5 software and repeated measure ANOVA and paired T tests. PSI (Physiologic Strain Index) for volunteers who were used chemical protective clothing and military work clothing was 5.3±1.4 and 2.32±0.42, respectively (p<0.001). Homodynamic parameters demonstrated statistically significant difference after physical activity in two types of coverage (p<0.001). Amounts of physical activity time and distance were better in subjects who were used military work clothes than protective clothing (p<0.001). NBC protective clothing can cause more physiologic strain, more limitation in performance and early exhaustion than the military work clothes. Using NBC protective clothing causes the increase of body core temperature, decrease of individual’s tolerance time and heat strain.