Relationship between simulated extravehicular activity tasks and measurements of physical performance

• Published in: Respiratory physiology & neurobiology Vol. 203; pp. 19 - 27
• Main Authors: Ade, C.J., Broxterman, R.M., Craig, J.C., Schlup, S.J., Wilcox, S.L., Barstow, T.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.11.2014
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Anaerobic Threshold - physiology; Critical speed; Endurance performance; Exercise Test; Extravehicular activity; Extravehicular Activity - physiology; Female; formula omitted; Humans; Male; Medical Education; Oxygen Consumption - physiology; Physical Endurance; Physical Fitness - physiology; Pulmonary Gas Exchange - physiology; Pulmonary/Respiratory; Running; Time Factors; Young Adult; V˙O2max; Critical speed; Endurance performance; Extravehicular activity; V ˙ O 2max
• ISSN: 1569-9048; 1878-1519; 1878-1519
• DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2014.08.007

•CS, running V˙O2max, s-V˙O2max, and arm cranking V˙O2peak had the highest correlations with the physical abilities field test.•For both men and women, CS had the highest correlation with physical abilities field test performance.•For the 10km Walkback, CS, s-V˙O2max, and running V˙O2max were significant predictors in both men and women.•The present study indicates that CS and to a lesser extent V˙O2max are associated with two simulated EVA tests. The purpose was to evaluate the relationships between tests of fitness and two activities that simulate components of Lunar- and Martian-based extravehicular activities (EVA). Seventy-one subjects completed two field tests: a physical abilities test and a 10km Walkback test. The relationships between test times and the following parameters were determined: running V˙O2max, gas exchange threshold (GET), speed at V˙O2max (s-V˙O2max), highest sustainable rate of aerobic metabolism [critical speed (CS)], and the finite distance that could be covered above CS (D′): arm cranking V˙O2peak, GET, critical power (CP), and the finite work that can be performed above CP (W′). CS, running V˙O2max, s-V˙O2max, and arm cranking V˙O2peak had the highest correlations with the physical abilities field test (r=0.66–0.82, P<0.001). For the 10km Walkback, CS, s-V˙O2max, and running V˙O2max were significant predictors (r=0.64–0.85, P<0.001). CS and to a lesser extent V˙O2max are most strongly associated with tasks that simulate aspects of EVA performance, highlighting CS as a method for evaluating astronaut physical capacity.