The Effects of Cold Exposure, Hypoxia, and Fatigue on Pistol Marksmanship and Target Engagement Decision Making in Trained Marksmen.

Abstract: Segovia, M, Salmon, OF, Ugale, C, and Smith, CM. The effects of cold exposure, hypoxia, and fatigue on pistol marksmanship and target engagement decision making in trained marksmen. J Strength Cond Res 38(11): e686-e694, 2024-This study aimed to examine the effects of cold exposure, hypoxia, and fatigue on pistol marksmanship and target engagement in trained marksmen. Twelve healthy subjects (mean ± SD age: 28.8 ± 4.0 years) performed 3 testing visits under normal/normoxic [Norm 21 ] (24° C; 21% FiO 2 ), cold/normoxic [Cold 21 ] (10° C; 21% FiO 2 ), and cold/hypoxic [Cold 14 ] (10° C; FiO 2 : 14.3) conditions. Pistol marksmanship and target engagement were assessed through draw time (DT) and shoot-no-shoot (SNS) courses of fire. The 2 protocols were performed before (T preF ) and immediately after (T postF ) a sandbag deadlift fatiguing protocol. Significance was set at p < 0.05. Significant condition × time interactions ( p = 0.01-0.03) were found for accuracy SNS (SNS acc ), misses SNS (SNS miss ), and total shots SNS (SNS tot ). Follow-up analyses indicated that SNS acc increased by 14.3% ( p = 0.03), SNS miss decreased by 34.7% ( p = 0.02), and SNS tot decreased by 10.6% ( p = 0.04) from T preF to T postF during the Cold 21 condition alone. No significance was found for these in the Norm 21 ( p = 0.08-0.22) or Cold 14 ( p = 0.18-0.47) conditions. Total time (SNS T ) to completion of the SNS ( p = 0.09) and DT ( p = 0.14) showed no significance across time or condition. Significant difference across time for Cold 14 ( p = 0.03-0.02) for reaction time was found. Exercise likely resulted in increased thermogenesis that improved tactically relevant motor skills including SNS acc , decreased SNS miss , and SNS tot in Cold 21 , but not Cold 14 . The additive effect of hypoxia coupled with exercise in the Cold 14 condition did not improve tactical performance, suggesting multi-stressor environments result in competing physiological responses. Tactical strength and conditioning specialists as well as operators should aim to improve thermoregulation during Cold 21 conditions, with exercise as a possible intervention.