Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Changes in aerobic performance, body composition, and physical activity in polar explorers during a year-long stay at the polar station in the Arctic

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Biometeorology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in physical activity, aerobic performance, and body composition in polar explorers during a 1-year stay at the polar station. The study group consisted of 10 people, including 8 men and 2 women. Aerobic performance (maximal oxygen uptake), physical activity, body mass, and composition were evaluated for the polar explores of the Polish Polar Station prior to departure, and then during their stay at the station for a period of 1 year. The measurements were performed every 3 months. Compared to the measurements taken before going to the polar station, aerobic performance significantly (p = 0.02) increased in the first 3 months of residing at the polar station and then remained relatively stable for the following duration of the stay. In the first 3 months of the stay, we also observed the highest level of physical activity in participants. In the polar explorers, no significant (p > 0.05) body fatness changes were noted. Nonetheless, lean body mass, body mass, and BMI significantly increased compared to the measurements taken before departure to the polar station. The greatest changes in aerobic performance, physical activity, and body composition were observed during the first 3 months after arrival to the Arctic and then, despite changing biometeorological conditions, they remained stable for the next months of the stay. We recommend the introduction of a physical preparation program before departing to the polar station to improve explorers’ physical fitness, so that they can meet the physical challenges they are faced with immediately after arrival to the polar station.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Acheson KJ, Campbell IT, Edholm OG, Miller DS, Stock MJ (1980) A longitudinal study of body weight and body fat changes in Antarctica. Am J Clin Nutr 33:972–977

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Araźny A (2008) Bioclimatic conditions and their variability in the Norwegian Arctic for the period 1971–2000. Nicolaus Copernicus University Press, Toruń. (in Polish)

  • Araźny A, Migała K, Sikora S, Budzik T (2010) Meteorological and biometeorological conditions in the Hornsund area (Spitsbergen) during the warm season. Pol Polar Res 31:217–238. doi:10.2478/v10183-010-0002-4

    Google Scholar 

  • Belkin V, Karasik D (1999) Anthropometric characteristics of men in Antarctica. Int J Circumpolar Health 58:152–169

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bhatia A, Pal R (2013) Impact of Antarctica winters on vital parameters and anthropometric variables. Travel Med Infect Dis 11:170–177. doi:10.1016/j.tmaid.2013.02.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bittel J (1992) The different types of general cold adaptation in man. Int J Sports Med 13:S172–S176. doi:10.1055/s-2007-1024630

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen N, Wu Q, Li H, Zhang T, Xu C (2016) Different adaptations of Chinese winter-over expeditioners during prolonged Antarctic and sub-Antarctic residence. Int J Biomet 60:737–747. doi:10.1007/s00484-015-1069-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Conway GA, Husberg BJ, Lincoln JM (1998) Cold as a risk factor in working life in the circumpolar regions. In: Holmer I, Kuklane K (eds) Problems with cold work 18. Arbate och Hälsa, National Institute for Working Life, Solna

  • Dehghan M, Merchant AT (2008) Is bioelectrical impedance accurate for use in large epidemiological studies. Nutr J 7:7–26. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-7-26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dick AF (1985) Fitness changes in an Australian Antarctic expedition. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 54:191–195. doi:10.1007/BF02335928

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gavhed D (2003) Human responses to cold and wind, Arbete och Hälsa 4, National Institute for Working Life, Stockholm

  • Gross LD, Sallis JF, Buono MJ, Roby JJ, Nelson JA (1990) Reliability of interviewers using the seven-day physical activity recall. Res Q Exerc Sport 61:321–325. doi:10.1080/02701367.1990.10607494

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Majumdar D, Purkayastha SS, Selvamurthy W (1994) Body weight and skin fold thickness in Antarctica. Ninth Indian Expedition to Antarctica, Scientific Report, Department of Ocean Development. Technical Publication 6:259–268

    Google Scholar 

  • Margaria R, Aghemo P, Rovelli E (1965) Indirect determination of maximal O2 consumption in man. J Appl Physiol 20:1070–1073

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Otani S, Ohno G, Shimoeda N, Mikami H (2004) Morbidity and health survey of wintering members in Japanese Antarctic research expedition. Int J Circumpolar Health 63:165–168. doi:10.3402/ijch.v63i0.17890

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palinkas LA, Suedfeld P (2008) Psychological effects of polar expeditions. Lancet 371(9607):153–163. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61056-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parker RH (1985) Physiological adaptations and activity recorded at a polar base. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 54:363–370. doi:10.1007/BF02337179

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Przybylak R, Araźny A, Nordli Ø, Finkelnburg R, Kejna M, Budzik T, Migała K, Sikora S, Puczko D, Rymer K, Rachlewicz G (2014) Spatial distribution of air temperature on Svalbard during 1 year with campaign measurements. Int J Climatol 34:3702–3719. doi:10.1002/joc.3937

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sallis JF, Haskell WL, Wood PD, Fortmann SP, Rogers T, Blair SN, Paffenbarger RS (1985) Physical activity assessment methodology in the Five-City Project. Am J Epidemiol 121:91–106

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sallis JF, Haskell WL, Fortmann SP, Vranizan KM, Taylor CB, Solomon DS (1986) Predictors of adoption and maintenance of physical activity in a community sample. Prev Med 15:331–341. doi:10.1016/0091-7435(86)90001-0

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sarkin J, Campbell J, Gross L, Roby J, Bazzo S, Sallis J, Calfas K (1997) Seven-day physical activity recall. Med Sci Sports Exerc 29(suppl. 6):89–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson A (2010) The effect of Antarctic residence on energy dynamics and aerobic fitness. Int J Circumpolar Health 69:220–235. doi:10.3402/ijch.v69i3.17625

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simpson A, Maynard V (2012) A longitudinal study of the effect of Antarctic residence on energy dynamics and aerobic fitness. Int J Circumpolar Health 71:17227. doi:10.3402/ijch.v71i0.17227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Styszyńska A (2013) Results of observations. In: Marsz AA, Styszyńska A (eds) Climate and climate change at Hornsund, Svalbard. Gdynia Maritime University, Gdynia, pp. 321–365

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanaka H, Monahan KD, Seals DR (2001) Age-predicted maximal heart rate revisited. J Am Coll Cardiol 37:153–156. doi:10.1016/S0735-1097(00)01054-8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson O (1960) Changes in body-weight of men in the Antarctic. Brit. J Nutr 14:391–401. doi:10.1079/BJN19600050

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Polish-Norwegian Fund as part of the Arctic climate system study of ocean, sea ice, and glacier interactions in Svalbard area project (AWAKE 2) and National Center for Research and Development (Poland). The authors would like to thank the subjects who volunteered for this study. Data were gathered during the 37th Polar Expedition (Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Geophysics) to Spitsbergen.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, University of Physical Education, Al. Jana Pawła II 78, 31-571, Kraków, Poland

    Marcin Maciejczyk

  2. Department of Meteorology and Climatology, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland

    Andrzej Araźny

  3. Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland

    Andrzej Araźny

  4. Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, University of Physical Education, Kraków, Poland

    Marta Opyrchał

Authors
  1. Marcin Maciejczyk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Andrzej Araźny
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Marta Opyrchał
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marcin Maciejczyk.

Ethics declarations

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Maciejczyk, M., Araźny, A. & Opyrchał, M. Changes in aerobic performance, body composition, and physical activity in polar explorers during a year-long stay at the polar station in the Arctic. Int J Biometeorol 61, 669–675 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-016-1244-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-016-1244-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation