Association of allostatic load measured by allostatic load index on physical performance and psychological responses during arduous military training

Abstract Military personnel experience decrements in physical fitness and psychological well‐being during training that may be attributed to allostatic load. This investigation examined the association between allostatic load measured by the allostatic load index (ALI) and physical performance and p...

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Main Authors: Evan D. Feigel, Kristen J. Koltun, Mita Lovalekar, Christopher K. Kargl, Matthew B. Bird, Jennifer N. Forse, Varun J. Patel, Brian J. Martin, Elizabeth F. Nagle, Karl E. Friedl, Bradley C. Nindl
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-03-01
Series:Physiological Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70273
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author Evan D. Feigel
Kristen J. Koltun
Mita Lovalekar
Christopher K. Kargl
Matthew B. Bird
Jennifer N. Forse
Varun J. Patel
Brian J. Martin
Elizabeth F. Nagle
Karl E. Friedl
Bradley C. Nindl
author_facet Evan D. Feigel
Kristen J. Koltun
Mita Lovalekar
Christopher K. Kargl
Matthew B. Bird
Jennifer N. Forse
Varun J. Patel
Brian J. Martin
Elizabeth F. Nagle
Karl E. Friedl
Bradley C. Nindl
author_sort Evan D. Feigel
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Military personnel experience decrements in physical fitness and psychological well‐being during training that may be attributed to allostatic load. This investigation examined the association between allostatic load measured by the allostatic load index (ALI) and physical performance and psychological responses in personnel undergoing a 10‐week training course. Thirty‐one participants (14 women) provided biochemical, questionnaire (perceived stress appraisal (PSS), sleep difficulty (SD), resilience (CD‐RISC‐25), and Physical Fitness Test (PFT; three‐mile run [3MR], pullups, Run‐Row PFT score, Push‐Pull PFT score, Crunches‐Plank PFT score, and total PFT score)) data before and after training. ALI (0–8) was calculated using biomarker components from neuroendocrine, autonomic, and immune systems. Simple linear regression analysis assessed the association between change (Δ) in ALI and responses. Backward stepwise regression identified components associated with responses (α = 0.05). In men, ΔALI was associated with Δpullups (β = −0.88, p = 0.015), Δpush‐pull PFT score (β = −2.87, p = 0.013), Δtotal PFT score (β = −3.48, p = 0.007), and ΔSD (β = −0.56, p = 0.046) with immune components explaining relationships. In women, ΔALI was associated with ΔSD (β = −1.25, p < 0.001) and ΔCD‐RISC‐25 (β = 2.65, p = 0.025) with no component explaining relationships. Increased ALI is associated with worsened physical performance in men and improved psychological outcomes in women, highlighting potential sex‐specific responses to increased allostatic load during training.
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spelling doaj-art-1d1a34baee8c4de58b033236c699d52d2025-08-20T02:42:08ZengWileyPhysiological Reports2051-817X2025-03-01136n/an/a10.14814/phy2.70273Association of allostatic load measured by allostatic load index on physical performance and psychological responses during arduous military trainingEvan D. Feigel0Kristen J. Koltun1Mita Lovalekar2Christopher K. Kargl3Matthew B. Bird4Jennifer N. Forse5Varun J. Patel6Brian J. Martin7Elizabeth F. Nagle8Karl E. Friedl9Bradley C. Nindl10Neuromuscular Research Laboratory/Warrior Human Performance Research Center University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USANeuromuscular Research Laboratory/Warrior Human Performance Research Center University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USANeuromuscular Research Laboratory/Warrior Human Performance Research Center University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USANeuromuscular Research Laboratory/Warrior Human Performance Research Center University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USANeuromuscular Research Laboratory/Warrior Human Performance Research Center University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USANeuromuscular Research Laboratory/Warrior Human Performance Research Center University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USANeuromuscular Research Laboratory/Warrior Human Performance Research Center University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USANeuromuscular Research Laboratory/Warrior Human Performance Research Center University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USADepartment of Health and Physical Activity University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USAUS Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine Natick Massachusetts USANeuromuscular Research Laboratory/Warrior Human Performance Research Center University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USAAbstract Military personnel experience decrements in physical fitness and psychological well‐being during training that may be attributed to allostatic load. This investigation examined the association between allostatic load measured by the allostatic load index (ALI) and physical performance and psychological responses in personnel undergoing a 10‐week training course. Thirty‐one participants (14 women) provided biochemical, questionnaire (perceived stress appraisal (PSS), sleep difficulty (SD), resilience (CD‐RISC‐25), and Physical Fitness Test (PFT; three‐mile run [3MR], pullups, Run‐Row PFT score, Push‐Pull PFT score, Crunches‐Plank PFT score, and total PFT score)) data before and after training. ALI (0–8) was calculated using biomarker components from neuroendocrine, autonomic, and immune systems. Simple linear regression analysis assessed the association between change (Δ) in ALI and responses. Backward stepwise regression identified components associated with responses (α = 0.05). In men, ΔALI was associated with Δpullups (β = −0.88, p = 0.015), Δpush‐pull PFT score (β = −2.87, p = 0.013), Δtotal PFT score (β = −3.48, p = 0.007), and ΔSD (β = −0.56, p = 0.046) with immune components explaining relationships. In women, ΔALI was associated with ΔSD (β = −1.25, p < 0.001) and ΔCD‐RISC‐25 (β = 2.65, p = 0.025) with no component explaining relationships. Increased ALI is associated with worsened physical performance in men and improved psychological outcomes in women, highlighting potential sex‐specific responses to increased allostatic load during training.https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70273adaptationAllostasisfitnessmaladaptationstress
spellingShingle Evan D. Feigel
Kristen J. Koltun
Mita Lovalekar
Christopher K. Kargl
Matthew B. Bird
Jennifer N. Forse
Varun J. Patel
Brian J. Martin
Elizabeth F. Nagle
Karl E. Friedl
Bradley C. Nindl
Association of allostatic load measured by allostatic load index on physical performance and psychological responses during arduous military training
Physiological Reports
adaptation
Allostasis
fitness
maladaptation
stress
title Association of allostatic load measured by allostatic load index on physical performance and psychological responses during arduous military training
title_full Association of allostatic load measured by allostatic load index on physical performance and psychological responses during arduous military training
title_fullStr Association of allostatic load measured by allostatic load index on physical performance and psychological responses during arduous military training
title_full_unstemmed Association of allostatic load measured by allostatic load index on physical performance and psychological responses during arduous military training
title_short Association of allostatic load measured by allostatic load index on physical performance and psychological responses during arduous military training
title_sort association of allostatic load measured by allostatic load index on physical performance and psychological responses during arduous military training
topic adaptation
Allostasis
fitness
maladaptation
stress
url https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70273
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