Study on the Sailors’ Athletic Ability Change Rule of Long-Time Simulated Voyage

Abstract

Due to special task environment, ocean vessel sailors on a long voyage have to face many adverse factors, such as long-time isolation, narrow space, irregular daily schedule and so on. Long-time isolation may affect sailors physically and psychologically which fluctuates over time. Narrow space cannot provide sufficient exercise conditions, and will limit forms of exercise. The situation directly reduces the amount and desire of exercise. Irregular daily schedule may cause biological rhythm disorder, and influence the physical state and exercise desire. Multiple factors will have a compound effect on the sailors’ athletic ability, affect related athletic performance and operation ability, and have a profound impact on the maintenance of task capability and performance. The purpose of this study was to explore the long-time change rule of sailors’ athletic ability. The environment of long-time voyage was simulated by isolated lab module. During the experiment, the participants were isolated from outside and conducted the experiment independently following the manual with guidance. The participants took athletic ability test at set intervals to record athletic performance at corresponding time. The indicators included strength, breathing function, body flexibility and body balance. By analyzing the data, the change rule of sailors’ athletic ability could be explored. Through data collection and analysis during the experiment, it was found that in simulated long-time voyage, the athletic ability was affected by multiple factors, which presented different change rule. In conclusion, the change rule of athletic ability indicators is staged, which relates to many factors, including long-time isolation, exercise space restriction, daily schedule and training effect of test items.