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Older age and less frequent endurance training habits predict the likelihood of illness during Arctic military training

Survival analysis showed that older age and less frequent endurance training habits significantly predicted the likelihood of viral illness among cadets during a 2-week near-Arctic winter training. The study included 49 cadets, with a naturalistic viral infection outbreak in first-year cadets providing the experimental context.

Last updated: Aug 2, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score34/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Physical and mental load of tactical athletes during Arctic military training.

observational

van den Berg NH, Michaud X, Vaara JP, Ojanen T, Kyröläinen H, Martin A, Haman F, Heikkinen R, Van Cutsem J, Pattyn N, Helen J, Simonelli G · Frontiers in sports and active living (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: 2 weeks
Intervention: Observational study of physical-load vs. mental-load groups during Arctic military training; naturalistic viral infection exposure
Outcome: Likelihood of illness (viral infection) during training
Effect Size: N/A (survival analysis reported significance but no specific effect size in abstract)
Population: 49 cadets (first-year and second-year) undergoing 2-week near-Arctic winter military training

Result:

PubMed: 42524425DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2026.1861009

Mechanism Graph

Older age and lower endurance training frequency are identified as risk factors
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These factors may reduce physiological resilience or immune function
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Exposure to harsh Arctic environment and close quarters increases infection risk
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Result: Higher likelihood of viral illness during training

Limitations

  • ⚠Small sample size (n=49) limits generalizability
  • ⚠Naturalistic viral infection outbreak was a chance occurrence, not controlled
  • ⚠Observational design cannot establish causation

Frequently Asked Questions

What factors predicted illness in Arctic military training?▼

Older age and less frequent endurance training habits significantly predicted the likelihood of viral illness during the 2-week training.

How was the study conducted?▼

It was an observational cohort study of 49 cadets during near-Arctic winter training, with wrist-worn accelerometers, daily self-reports, and body composition measurements.

What was the role of the viral infection in the study?▼

A chance outbreak of viral infection in first-year cadets provided a naturalistic experiment to study vulnerability to illness.

What are the practical implications for military leaders?▼

Leaders should be aware that mental load affects performance not just during combat but also during preparation and cleanup phases, and that aerobic fitness and experience may reduce illness risk.

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References

  1. 1.van den Berg NH, Michaud X, Vaara JP, Ojanen T, Kyröläinen H, Martin A, Haman F, Heikkinen R, Van Cutsem J, Pattyn N, Helen J, Simonelli G. "Physical and mental load of tactical athletes during Arctic military training.." Frontiers in sports and active living, 2026. PMID: 42524425 DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2026.1861009
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.