Janna Mantua1, Alexxa F Bessey2, Bradley M Ritland3, Jacob A Naylor4, Richard Chabuz2, Ashlee B McKeon2, Vincent F Capaldi2, Walter J Sowden5. 1. Behavioral Biology Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA. Electronic address: janna.r.mantua.civ@mail.mil. 2. Behavioral Biology Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA. 3. Military Performance Division, United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Kansas Street, Natick, MA, 01760, USA. 4. United States Army Special Operations Command, 2929 Desert Storm Drive, Fort Bragg, NC, 28310, USA. 5. Behavioral Biology Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA; Department of Behavioral Health, Tripler Army Medical Center, 1 Jarrett White Rd, Honolulu, HI, 96859, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Sleep loss negatively impacts stationary balance in a laboratory setting, but few studies have examined this link in a naturalistic environment. We tested this relationship in U.S. Army soldiers that often undergo mission-driven sleep loss and who conduct high-risk operations on precarious terrain. METHODS: Stationary balance was tested before and after a mission night. RESULTS: After mission-driven sleep loss, in more difficult conditions (but not easy conditions) balance was more unstable and more variable than a rested baseline condition. Furthermore, habitual sleep quality prior to sleep loss predicted the balance decrement after sleep loss. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, mission-driven sleep loss may negatively impact soldier balance, but better sleep prior to the mission may mitigate these negative effects. Published by Elsevier B.V.
BACKGROUND:Sleep loss negatively impacts stationary balance in a laboratory setting, but few studies have examined this link in a naturalistic environment. We tested this relationship in U.S. Army soldiers that often undergo mission-driven sleep loss and who conduct high-risk operations on precarious terrain. METHODS: Stationary balance was tested before and after a mission night. RESULTS: After mission-driven sleep loss, in more difficult conditions (but not easy conditions) balance was more unstable and more variable than a rested baseline condition. Furthermore, habitual sleep quality prior to sleep loss predicted the balance decrement after sleep loss. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, mission-driven sleep loss may negatively impact soldier balance, but better sleep prior to the mission may mitigate these negative effects. Published by Elsevier B.V.