Clara Burns, a 26-year-old graduate pupil of Biomedical Engineering, crossed the Atlantic in a rowing boat within the spring as a part of a workforce from TU Vienna. Help for the examine 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 workforce 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 is likely to be finished higher in future ultra-endurance efforts like this:

• As an alternative of instantly beginning the three hour on, 3 hour off rhythm, it is likely to be higher to extra step by step 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, satisfying exercise that allows you to have a good time that you just’re midway by way of the trouble and luxury your self over the belief that there’s nonetheless an extended technique to go.”