Cold acclimatization and methods of training: advancements and challenges

Cold environments make a big difference in war outcomes, as they impact health status, field survival, and combat effectiveness of military personnel who have to endure the adverse effects of environmental factors when performing military missions in cold environments. Cold exposures can compromise the combat and emergency capabilities of military operators and cause direct harm to health. Therefore, improving cold acclimatization is essential to the health status and combat effectiveness of military personnel stationed amid cold exposures. This review summarizes advances in research on cold acclimatization, especially assessment approaches and acclimatization-promoting strategies, in the hope of helping upgrade cold acclimatization training, enhancing cold tolerance, and reduce the incidence of cold injuries.