Effects of Chronotype and Social Jetlag on Blood Biomarkers During WLFF 2-Week Critical Training Period

Chronotype, an individual\u27s natural preference towards activity during certain times of the day, influences the interaction between one\u27s internal circadian rhythms and the external environment. When this is disrupted, it can result in social jet lag (SJL), the misalignment between our sleep/wake schedule on work days and free days. Wildland firefighters grapple with unpredictable and intense demands of their job, making them vulnerable to the challenges posed by SJL. Their duties necessitate abrupt changes in active hours, pushing against their body\u27s inherent circadian preferences. SJL is a behavioral trait that may alter an individual\u27s ability to respond to high stress environments and situations. PURPOSE: To analyze the relationship between chronotype and social jet lag on blood biomarkers during a WLFF 2-week Critical Training period. METHODS: Participants underwent baseline testing which included the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire and the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements were recorded alongside body composition via skinfold measurements. A comprehensive blood draw was conducted to analyze Complete Blood Count. Following baseline assessments, participants entered a 12-day CT period. During this period, daily activity and HR were monitored. Participants maintained a daily training log, sleep log, and completed a Visual Analog Scale for sleep quality and muscle soreness. Upon completion of the CT period, the same measurements as the baseline testing were completed. RESULTS: 25 participants completed the study. Chronotype analysis showed a ME of exercise in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) with both increasing post-CT in intermediate (INT) and morning-types (MT) (p1h of SJL (pCONCLUSION: This data shows that chronotype and SJL had modest effects on blood biomarkers in response to a 2-week CT period but the magnitude of SJL does influence the increase in muscle damage biomarkers. Strategies to mitigate SJL among WLFFs may be necessary to manage the effects of hard training