Análise do condicionamento físico, nível de estresse e qualidade do sono de submarinistas brasileiros

Abstract

Introduction: Submarines are considered a typical isolated, confined and extreme environment (ICE). This metabolically unfavorable environment, to which submariners are exposed, can bring about factors that affect their health, such as: sedentary lifestyle, sleep deprivation, and high levels of stress. Investigating such reactions and promoting an improvement in the working conditions of this population can be determining factors to improve the health and quality of life of these individuals, as well as to avoid work accidents. Objective: to analyze the physical fitness, stress level and sleep quality of Brazilian submariners. Methods: the thesis was organized into six chapters. The first three are systematic reviews, carried out according to the PRISMA methodology, in order to find the knowledge gap about these variables: “Effects of confinement on the physical fitness and health of submariners”, “Effects of confinement on the stress level in military submariners: a systematic review”, and “Effects of military submariners' activities on sleep quality: a systematic review”. The other three refer to observational studies with data from Brazilian submariners: “Prediction of stress levels in military submariners, based on physical fitness and sleep quality variables”, “Analysis of sleep profile and its relationship with physical fitness variables in Brazilian submariners”, and “Prediction of sleep quality in submariners”. Results: The systematic reviews carried out in this study were able to provide an overview of what the literature has to offer on physical fitness, stress levels and sleep quality of submariners internationally. They showed that military submariners present negative changes in the analysis of body composition and compromised aerobic performance, which may affect their health. The stressors that stood out with confinement in submariners in the studies evaluated were post-traumatic stress, occupational stress, organizational stress and psychosocial stress. Furthermore, submarine activities, including working and living in extremely small spaces, confinement, isolation from all interactions with the outside world, monotonous routine, prolonged separation from family members, and potentially dangerous operational responsibilities, have consequences on total sleep time and sleep quality, as self- reported by military personnel. The operational routine of shift work on submarines has negative effects on the quality of sleep of submariners. In the sample of Brazilian submariners analyzed, the model for predicting stress levels was based on sleep quality, cardiorespiratory fitness, and number of repetitions of the squat exercise. Furthermore, sleep quality can be estimated based on stress levels and lower limb power. Conclusion: improving physical fitness can reduce the harmful effects of being in a submarine, and at the same time indicates that it can be a strategy for minimizing their effects on the quality of life of this population