The effects of basic training on aerobic fitness and muscular strength and endurance of British Army recruits

ABSTRACT Introduction Army recruit injuries occurring during basic training can lead to high personal and organizational burdens potentially threatening deployment capability. Previous military surveillance describing recruit injury as defined by physical therapy presentations is limited to 1-year duration or includes only male infantry recruits or trained personnel. Research describing injury incidence and trends specific to New Zealand Army basic training recruits over a longer period will better inform future injury prevention programs. Aims To identify the incidence and patterns of injuries reported from physical therapy presentations for New Zealand Army recruits undertaking basic training over a 4-year period. Materials and Methods This retrospective observational study identified injuries from physical therapy service presentations in New Zealand Army recruits from 2008 to 2011. All male and female New Zealand Army recruits who presented to physical therapy, following medical triage, were included. Recruit physical therapy presentations for injury and respiratory and other conditions were collated. Injury incidence was grouped by body region (upper limbs, lower limbs, and combined spinal regions) and site (joint or segment), and cumulative and injury incidence rates were calculated. Results One thousand eight hundred and ninety-six (1,697 males and 199 females) New Zealand Army recruits commenced basic training between 2008 and 2011. One thousand six hundred and eighty-three physical therapy presentations occurred for recruit injury during New Zealand Army basic training over 4 years. Lower limb injuries accounted for over 75% (n = 1,285) of the overall demand for physical therapy service during recruit basic training. Injuries sustained at the knee and below accounted for 67% of all reported injury presentations. Conclusion Four years of injury surveillance using physical therapy presentations identified the lower limb, with the knee and below as the most commonly injured regions in New Zealand Army recruits. Injury prevention interventions for New Zealand Army recruits should aim to reduce lower limb injuries. Future research on injury surveillance would benefit from incorporating clear injury and severity definitions, established injury classification systems, and standardized incidence calculations.

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Running to breaking point? The relationship between 1.5-mile run time and injury risk in female recruits during British Army basic training

BMJ Military Health ◽

10.1136/jramc-2018-001012 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 166 (E) ◽

pp. e3-e7 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Rosalie Heller ◽

H Stammers

Keyword(s):

Injury Risk ◽

Early Stage ◽

Military Training ◽

P Value ◽

British Army ◽

Basic Training ◽

Best Effort ◽

Fitness Assessment ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Run Time

IntroductionThe 1.5-mile best-effort run is used in the British Army to assess the fitness of all recruits and trained service personnel by means of the physical fitness assessment (PFA). The 1.5-mile run is a basic measure of fitness and slower times have been associated with an increased risk of musculoskeletal injury (MSkI), particularly during this early stage of training. The aim of this study was to establish whether 1.5-mile run times were associated with subsequent MSkIs among female recruits during their 14-week basic training.MethodRetrospective data were analysed from female recruits who had undertaken basic military training between June 2016 and October 2017. This included retrieving the results of their week 1 PFA; recording the type, cause and week of MSkI if they had sustained one; and noting down their outcome from basic training. Run times were statistically analysed in relation to MSkI occurrence of 227 female recruits using binomial logistic regression with an accepted alpha level of p value <0.05.Results1.5-mile run time predicted risk of MSkI (χ2 (1)=12.91, p<0.0005) in female recruits. The mean run time for injury-free recruits was faster than for injured recruits (12 min 13 s compared with 12 min 43 s). Every 10 s increase in run time was associated with an 8.3% increase in risk of injury.ConclusionSlower 1.5-mile best-effort run time, as a surrogate of aerobic fitness, is associated with increased risk of MSkI in female recruits during basic training.

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High Aerobic Fitness And Muscular Strength Offset Aging-induced Deterioration Of Male Sexual Function

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise ◽

10.1249/01.mss.0000536873.85320.d8 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 50 (5S) ◽

pp. 542

Author(s):

Hiroshi Kumagai ◽

Toru Yoshikawa ◽

Kanae Myoenzono ◽

Nobuhiko Akazawa ◽

Seiji Maeda

Keyword(s):

Sexual Function ◽

Aerobic Fitness ◽

Muscular Strength ◽

Male Sexual Function

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Dietary Intake and Nitrogen Balance in British Army Infantry Recruits Undergoing Basic Training

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12072125 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (7) ◽

pp. 2125 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Shaun Chapman ◽

Alex J. Rawcliffe ◽

Rachel Izard ◽

Kimberley Jacka ◽

Hayley Tyson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dietary Intake ◽

Nitrogen Balance ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Protein Intake ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

British Army ◽

Basic Training ◽

Training Centre ◽

Significant Difference ◽

G 11

We assessed dietary intake and nitrogen balance during 14 weeks of Basic Training (BT) in British Army Infantry recruits. Nineteen men (mean ± SD: age 19.9 ± 2.6 years, height: 175.7 ± 6.5 cm, body mass 80.3 ± 10.1 kg) at the Infantry Training Centre, Catterick (ITC(C)) volunteered. Nutrient intakes and 24-h urinary nitrogen balance were assessed in weeks 2, 6 and 11 of BT. Nutrient intake was assessed using researcher-led weighed food records and food diaries, and Nutritics professional dietary software. Data were compared between weeks using a repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with statistical significance set at p ≤ 0.05. There was a significant difference in protein intake (g) between weeks 2 and 11 of BT (115 ± 18 vs. 91 ± 20 g, p = 0.02, ES = 1.26). There was no significant difference in mean absolute daily energy (p = 0.44), fat (p = 0.79) or carbohydrate (CHO) intake (p = 0.06) between weeks. Nitrogen balance was maintained in weeks 2, 6 and 11, but declined throughout BT (2: 4.6 ± 4.1 g, 6: 1.6 ± 4.5 g, 11: −0.2 ± 5.5 g, p = 0.07). A protein intake of 1.5 g·kg−1·d−1 may be sufficient in the early stages of BT, but higher intakes may be individually needed later on in BT.

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Viability of Cardiorespiratory and Muscular Strength Programs for the Adolescent with Autism

Complementary health practice review ◽

10.1177/1076167503252917 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 225-233 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Marc Lochbaum ◽

Debbie Crews

Keyword(s):

Exercise Training ◽

Physical Health ◽

Strength Training ◽

Aerobic Fitness ◽

Muscular Strength ◽

Bench Press ◽

Training Programs ◽

Well Being ◽

Future Directions ◽

Leg Press

Investigations have focused on exercise as an intervention with individuals with autism. The purpose of this investigation was to conduct exercise-training programs following standard guidelines with individuals with autism to stimulate future researchers to implement such programs. Aerobic and muscular strength training programs (MST) were con-ducted. Aerobic fitness increased 33%, 50%, and 33% for the 3 participants. For the MST, bench press increased 19% and 28%, low row increased 47% and 21%, and leg press increased 29% and 12% for the 2 participants. Future directions are discussed with regard to using exercise-training programs to not only enhance physical health but also the psychological well-being of individuals with autism.

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Effects of Basic Training in the British Army on Regular and Reserve Army Personnel

The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research ◽

10.1519/15704.1 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 254 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Alum G. Williams

Keyword(s):

British Army ◽

Basic Training ◽

Army Personnel

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Hormonal contraceptive use, bone density and biochemical markers of bone metabolism in British Army recruits

BMJ Military Health ◽

10.1136/bmjmilitary-2020-001745 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. bmjmilitary-2020-001745

Author(s):

Charlotte V Coombs ◽

T J O'Leary ◽

J C Y Tang ◽

W D Fraser ◽

J P Greeves

Keyword(s):

Bone Density ◽

Bone Metabolism ◽

Cortical Bone ◽

Biochemical Markers ◽

Contraceptive Use ◽

Military Training ◽

Hormonal Contraception ◽

Hormonal Contraceptive ◽

British Army ◽

Army Recruits

IntroductionHormonal contraceptive use might impair bone health and increase the risk of stress fracture by decreasing endogenous oestrogen production, a central regulator of bone metabolism. This cross-sectional study investigated bone density and biochemical markers of bone metabolism in women taking hormonal contraceptives on entry to basic military training.MethodsForty-five female British Army recruits had biochemical markers of bone metabolism, areal bone mineral density (aBMD) and tibial speed of sound (tSOS) measured at the start of basic military training. Participants were compared by their method of hormonal contraception: no hormonal contraception (NONE), combined contraceptive pill (CP) or depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) (20±2.8 years, 1.64±0.63 m, 61.7±6.2 kg).ResultsaBMD was not different between groups (p≥0.204), but tSOS was higher in NONE (3%, p=0.014) when compared with DMPA users. Beta C-terminal telopeptide was higher in NONE (45%, p=0.037) and DMPA users (90%, p=0.003) compared with CP users. Procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide was higher in DMPA users compared with NONE (43%, p=0.045) and CP users (127%, p=0.001), and higher in NONE compared with CP users (59%, p=0.014). Bone alkaline phosphatase was higher in DMPA users compared with CP users (56%, p=0.044).ConclusionsDMPA use was associated with increased bone turnover and decreased cortical bone integrity of the tibia. Lower cortical bone integrity in DMPA users was possibly mediated by increased intracortical remodelling, but trabecular bone was not affected by contraceptive use.

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Naming of Parts: Observations of Institutional Socialization in the First Week of British Army Phase 1 Training

Journal of Contemporary Ethnography ◽

10.1177/0891241617742190 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 48 (3) ◽

pp. 377-401

Author(s):

Paul Carré

Keyword(s):

Moral Identity ◽

Phase 1 ◽

British Army ◽

Initial Training ◽

Subsequent Formation ◽

Early Stages ◽

Cultural Variables ◽

Institutional Socialization ◽

Army Recruits

This article examines the formative socialization of British Army recruits in the first week of their Phase 1 Initial Training. Contextualized by individual and collective cultural variables, an extended participant observational case study commented on the process by which the British Army seeks to instill discipline and military identity in the early stages of transition from civilian to trained soldier. The person-environment relationship and individual exosystemic themes emerged as apparent influential variables, noting that a relationship appeared to exist between an early internalization of military values and subsequent formation of a moral identity, with associated primary and secondary adjustment behaviors.

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