Neuromuscular and cardiovascular responses of Royal Marine recruits to load carriage in the field

Cardiovascular and neuromuscular responses of 12 male Royal Marine recruits (age 22 ± 3 years, body mass 80.7 ± 6.8 kg, V˙O2max 52.3 ± 2.7 ml kg−1 min−1) were measured during 19.3 km of load carriage walking at 4.2 km h−1 and carrying 31.0 kg. Heart rate during load carriage was 145 ± 10 beats·min−1 (64 ± 5 %HRR) and showed a negative relationship with body mass (r = −0.72, P = 0.009) but no relationship with V˙O2max (ml kg−1 min−1; r = −0.40, P = 0.198). Load carriage caused a decrease in vertical jump height (8 ± 9%) and power (5 ± 5%) (P