
Clara Burns, a 26-year-old graduate scholar of Biomedical Engineering, crossed the Atlantic in a rowing boat within the spring as a part of a staff from TU Vienna. Assist for the research was supplied by Prof. Eugenijus Kaniusas, head of the Biomedical Sensing and Remedy analysis group at TU Vienna.Varied well being measures have been recorded all through the 42 day journey together with heart-rate variability and the main points are reported right here. The staff members alternated 3 hours sleeping and three hours rowing. One fascinating discovering was that this schedule over time led to degraded sleep high quality. Her physique compensated by rising exercise of the parasympathetic nervous system to guard the guts.
Additionally fascinating have been some ideas realized for what could be performed higher in future ultra-endurance efforts like this:
- As a substitute of instantly beginning the three hour on, 3 hour off rhythm, it could be higher to extra steadily transition over from a standard day-night rhythm.
- Dr Kaniusas recommends a reward in the course of the journey to maintain spirits up: “Possibly some particular, gratifying exercise that permits you to have fun that you simply’re midway via the trouble and luxury your self over the conclusion that there’s nonetheless an extended method to go.”