Biomaterial Database

Physiological and perceptual responses while wearing stab-resistant body armor in hot and humid environment. 2019

Mengqi Yuan, and Nan Li, and Yuchen Wei, and Jie Yang

State Key Laboratory of Explosion Science and Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China.

The aim of this study was to investigate the physiological and perceptual responses of the human body wearing stab-resistant body armor (SRBA) in a hot and humid environment. The responses of five healthy male volunteers wearing SRBA were compared with those under a Control condition (wearing T-shirt) in a hot and humid environment (38 °C and relative humidity of 60%). The participants walked on a treadmill at a speed of 6 km/h for 60 min and this was followed by 60 min of recovery. The physiological responses (core temperature, skin temperature, heart rate, oxygen consumption) and perceptual parameters (thermal sensation, thermal comfort, rate of perceived exertion (RPE), and restriction to movement) were recorded throughout the tests. The results showed that the use of SRBA resulted in higher values of core temperature, mean skin temperature, heart rate, and oxygen consumption during exercise, and a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the SRBA and Control trials in terms of oxygen consumption was observed. The subjects wearing SRBA exhibited higher RPE and restriction to movement during exercise when compared with those in the Control condition, and a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the two trials in terms of restriction to movement was observed. Moreover, no significant differences (p > 0.05) in terms of thermal sensation and thermal comfort were observed between the SRBA and Control trials. It was concluded that the use of SRBA imposed high thermoregulatory and cardiovascular strain, reduced perceived exertion, and restricted movement during exercise in the hot and humid environment, whereas its effect on thermal sensation and thermal comfort was negligible when compared with those in the Control condition.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D009068	Movement	The act, process, or result of passing from one place or position to another. It differs from LOCOMOTION in that locomotion is restricted to the passing of the whole body from one place to another, while movement encompasses both locomotion but also a change of the position of the whole body or any of its parts. Movement may be used with reference to humans, vertebrate and invertebrate animals, and microorganisms. Differentiate also from MOTOR ACTIVITY, movement associated with behavior.	Movements
D010101	Oxygen Consumption	The rate at which oxygen is used by a tissue; microliters of oxygen STPD used per milligram of tissue per hour; the rate at which oxygen enters the blood from alveolar gas, equal in the steady state to the consumption of oxygen by tissue metabolism throughout the body. (Stedman, 25th ed, p346)	Consumption, Oxygen,Consumptions, Oxygen,Oxygen Consumptions
D011481	Protective Clothing	Clothing designed to protect the individual against possible exposure to known hazards.	Clothing, Protective
D001833	Body Temperature Regulation	The processes of heating and cooling that an organism uses to control its temperature.	Heat Loss,Thermoregulation,Regulation, Body Temperature,Temperature Regulation, Body,Body Temperature Regulations,Heat Losses,Loss, Heat,Losses, Heat,Regulations, Body Temperature,Temperature Regulations, Body,Thermoregulations
D005082	Physical Exertion	Expenditure of energy during PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. Intensity of exertion may be measured by rate of OXYGEN CONSUMPTION; HEAT produced, or HEART RATE. Perceived exertion, a psychological measure of exertion, is included.	Physical Effort,Effort, Physical,Efforts, Physical,Exertion, Physical,Exertions, Physical,Physical Efforts,Physical Exertions
D006339	Heart Rate	The number of times the HEART VENTRICLES contract per unit of time, usually per minute.	Cardiac Rate,Chronotropism, Cardiac,Heart Rate Control,Heartbeat,Pulse Rate,Cardiac Chronotropy,Cardiac Chronotropism,Cardiac Rates,Chronotropy, Cardiac,Control, Heart Rate,Heart Rates,Heartbeats,Pulse Rates,Rate Control, Heart,Rate, Cardiac,Rate, Heart,Rate, Pulse
D006358	Hot Temperature	Presence of warmth or heat or a temperature notably higher than an accustomed norm.	Heat,Hot Temperatures,Temperature, Hot,Temperatures, Hot
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006813	Humidity	A measure of the amount of WATER VAPOR in the air.	Humidities