Backpack Weight Impacts

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Backpacking is an increasingly popular outdoor recreational activity. The base pack weight (BPW) includes gear that is not consumed or worn on the body: shelter, sleep system, weather-proofing layers and personal gear to ensure a degree of comfort and safety. As such, reducing BPW is one of the most important tasks a backpacker manages when preparing for a trip. Available recommendations for ideal BPW are currently inconsistent, lack clear parameters, and rely on anecdotal evidence. The study aims to collect field data on perceived exertion and heart rate (HR) in relation to BPW during a day-long interval of hiking. Such findings can have implications on the cost and safety profiles extending from recreational backpacking to military and wilderness rescue operations.

Official Title
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Backpack Weight Impacts on Perceived Exertion and Heart Rate Variability

Conditions
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Exertion; Excess

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: The Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Only adult (age 18-65) Have gone on at least two overnight backpacking trips in the past 5 years Have hiked at least 8 miles in a day on one of those trips Exclusion Criteria: Lower extremity injuries or surgeries in the past 6-months Daily Smokers Chronic medical problems: Hypertension High cholesterol Diabetes Heart attack Heart surgery, cardiac catheterization, or coronary angioplasty Pacemaker/implantable cardiac defibrillator/rhythm disturbance Heart valve disease Heart failure Heart transplantation Congenital heart disease Kidney disease Back pain

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: The Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion between 17 and 19 lb BPW<br>Participants will be randomized to both 17 and 19 pounds for the first hike and the alternate condition for the second hike. A random number generator will create 1 block that includes 10 participants in each block to ensure comparable numbers to subjects starting at different base backpack weight. Participants assignments will then be included in a sealed manila envelopes. | Behavioral: The Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion<br>* Participants who satisfy the exclusion criteria and health assessment instrument are categorized in the lowest risk group for cardiac events and does not require medical screening for mild to moderate exercise per ACSM guidelines.<br>|
| Active Comparator: The Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion between 19 and 17 lb BPW<br>Participants will be randomized to both 19 or 17 pounds for the first hike and the alternate condition for the second hike. A random number generator will create 1 block that includes 10 participants in each block to ensure comparable numbers to subjects starting at different base backpack weight. Participants assignments will then be included in a sealed manila envelopes. | Behavioral: The Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion<br>* Participants who satisfy the exclusion criteria and health assessment instrument are categorized in the lowest risk group for cardiac events and does not require medical screening for mild to moderate exercise per ACSM guidelines.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion During the Total Hike | Participants will report their perceived exertion towards the end of both hikes. The Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion scale ranges from 6 to 20. 6 being the lowest score of no exertion and 20 being the highest of maximal exertion. | 2 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Heart Rate | Difference between participants' heart rate during both 17 and 19 pound base backpack weight. | 2 weeks | 
| The Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion During Incline and Decline Sections of the participant | Participants will report the perceived exertion mid-hike and towards the end. The Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion scale ranges from 6 to 20. 6 being the lowest score of no exertion and 20 being the highest of maximal exertion. | 2 weeks |