scholarly journals Comparison of Different Variants of the U.S. Army Occupational Physical Assessment Test

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry A Spiering ◽  
Kathryn M Taylor ◽  
Bruce S Cohen ◽  
Nathaniel I Smith ◽  
David J Zeppetelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seat Height ◽  
Physical Assessment ◽  
Institutional Review ◽  
Standing Long Jump ◽  
Employment Screening ◽  
Army Medical Research ◽  
Long Jump ◽  
Screening Assessment ◽  
Scientific Validation ◽  
The U.S

ABSTRACT Introduction The U.S. Army Occupational Physical Assessment Test (OPAT) is a pre-enlistment physical employment screening assessment developed to place recruits and soldiers into Military Occupational Specialties (MOSs) based on their physical capabilities in order to optimize performance and limit injury. The OPAT consists of the seated power throw (SPT), strength deadlift (SDL), standing long jump, and interval aerobic run. During the scientific validation of the OPAT, two variants of the SPT and two variants of the SDL were used. Although the OPAT was validated using both variants for each test, U.S. Army scientists and policymakers have received queries regarding how these variants compare to each other. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare different variants of the SPT and SDL. Materials and Methods Thirty-two participants (14 male and 18 female) between the ages of 18 and 42 years visited the laboratory on one occasion and performed two variants of the SPT (seated on the ground [the current OPAT standard] versus seated in a chair with a 35 cm seat height) and two variants of the SDL (using a hex-bar [the current OPAT standard] versus using paired dumbbells). Testing order for the different variants was randomized. The protocol was approved by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command Institutional Review Board. Results Performing the SPT from a chair significantly (P < .05) increased performance when compared to performing the SPT from the ground (5.4 ± 1.3 m versus 5.0 ± 1.4 m, respectively). Values for the two SPT variants were correlated (tau = 0.90). Performing the SDL using the hex-bar significantly increased the maximal weight lifted when compared to performing the SDL using paired dumbbells (86.9 ± 18.4 kg versus 83.1 ± 18.0 kg, respectively). Values for the two SDL variants were correlated (tau = 0.83). Conclusions Performing different variants of the SPT and SDL influenced the resulting score. Although these findings do not alter the administration or scoring of the OPAT, they do provide a valuable reference in the event of future inquiries regarding the development of the OPAT.

United States university-based officer training and its influence on physical assessment test performance

2020 ◽  
pp. bmjmilitary-2020-001486
Author(s):  
Jessica C Tom ◽  
B K Schilling ◽  
B Poston ◽  
C L Turner ◽  
K N Radzak
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Physical Fitness Test ◽  
Physical Assessment ◽  
Paired Samples ◽  
Standing Long Jump ◽  
Long Jump ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Relationship

IntroductionCadets participating in Reserve Officers’ Training Corp (ROTC) at US universities undergo both Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) and Occupational Physical Assessment Test (OPAT) evaluations prior to commissioning. The current study examined the relationship between ROTC physical training (PT) attendance and performance in the APFT and OPAT, and characterised physical activity of cadets outside of PT.MethodsTwenty-six cadets’ (21 males; age=20.81±2.48 years; height=171.16±8.62 cm; body mass=75.49±13.17 kg; body mass index=25.68±3.37 kg/m2) PT attendance, and diagnostic (week 1) and record (week 13) OPAT and APFT scores were documented. Paired samples t-tests evaluated differences in APFT and OPAT scores between the diagnostic and record tests. Pearson correlations were utilised to determine if a relationship existed between PT attendance and test performance. Participating cadets also completed monthly self-reported physical activity questionnaire (September, October, November); findings were reported using descriptive statistics.ResultsCadets attended 87% of PT sessions between OPAT administrations and 85% between APFT administrations. Cadets significantly improved the following test components: standing long jump (p=0.034), seated power throw (p=0.029), shuttle run (p=0.005), sit-ups (p=0.003) and 2-mile run (p=0.045). A significant, positive correlation was found between PT attendance and APFT sit-ups improvements (r=0.473, p=0.015). Cadets’ frequently reported additional physical activity days per week (range: 2.8–3.1 aerobic, 3.2–3.8 strength/power, 2.9–3.2 core strength/endurance).ConclusionsRegular participation in a single semester of ROTC PT was found to significantly increase cadets’ scores in some, but not all, components of the APFT and OPAT. Self-reported physical activity results indicate that cadets regularly train outside of organised PT.

scholarly journals Inter-Limb Jump Asymmetries and Their Association with Sport-Specific Performance in Young Male and Female Swimmers

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 7324
Author(s):  
Max I. Phukan ◽  
Rohit K. Thapa ◽  
Gopal Kumar ◽  
Chris Bishop ◽  
Helmi Chaabene ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
National Level ◽  
Young Male ◽  
Front Crawl ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Standing Long Jump ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Specific Performance ◽  
Long Jump ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Level Of Agreement

This study aimed to examine inter-limb jump asymmetries and their association with sport-specific performance in young swimmers. Thirty-eight (male, n = 19; female, n = 19) regional/national level young swimmers (age: 12.3 ± 1.2 years; height: 159.6 ± 8.2 cm; body mass: 52.5 ± 9.2 kg) participated in this study. Inter-limb asymmetries were assessed for single-leg countermovement jump (SLCMJ) and single-leg standing long jump (SLSLJ). Sport-specific performance was evaluated using front crawl (i.e., 50 m and 25 m) and front crawl kick (i.e., 50 m and 25 m). The kappa coefficient revealed a “slight” level of agreement (Κ = 0.156, 0.184, and 0.197 for female, male, and all, respectively) between the direction of asymmetry for SLCMJ and SLSLJ, indicating that asymmetries rarely favored the same limb during both tests. A paired sample t-test showed a significant difference (p = 0.025) between asymmetry scores obtained in SLCMJ and SLSLJ. No significant difference was found in asymmetry scores between males and females (p = 0.099 to 0.977). Additionally, no association between asymmetry scores and sport-specific performance was observed (p > 0.05). Our findings highlight the independent nature of inter-limb asymmetries derived from SLCMJ and SLSLJ among young male and female swimmers. Further, our results suggest no association between jumping asymmetries and sport-specific performance.

BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF THE STANDING LONG JUMP

2003 ◽  
Vol 15 (05) ◽  
pp. 186-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
WEN-LAN WU ◽  
JIA-HROUNG WU ◽  
HWAI-TING LIN ◽  
GWO-JAW WANG
Keyword(s):  
Knee Joint ◽  
Motion Analysis ◽  
Joint Angle ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
The Body ◽  
Initial Angle ◽  
Knee Joint Angle ◽  
Standing Long Jump ◽  
Long Jump ◽  
Arm Motion

The purposes of the present study were to (1) investigate the effects of the arm movement and initial knee joint angle employed in standing long jump by the ground reaction force analysis and three-dimensional motion analysis; and (2) investigate how the jump performance of the female gender related to the body configuration. Thirty-four healthy adult females performed standing long jump on a force platform with full effort. Body segment and joint angles were analyzed by three-dimensional motion analysis system. Using kinetic and kinematic data, the trajectories on mass center of body, knee joint angle, magnitude of peak takeoff force, and impulse generation in preparing phase were calculated. Average standing long jump performances with free arm motion were +1.5 times above performance with restricted arm motion in both knee initial angles. The performances with knee 90° initial flexion were +1.2 times above performance with knee 45° initial flexion in free and restricted arm motions. Judging by trajectories of the center mass of body (COM), free arm motion improves jump distance by anterior displacement of the COM in starting position. The takeoff velocity with 90° knee initial angle was as much as 11% higher than in with 45° knee initial angle. However, the takeoff angles on the COM trajectory showed no significant differences between each other. It was found that starting jump from 90° bend knee relatively extended the time that the force is applied by the leg muscles. To compare the body configurations and the jumping scores, there were no significant correlations between jump scores and anthropometry data. The greater muscle mass or longer leg did not correlated well with the superior jumping performance.

scholarly journals „Z”-scores of anthropometric and motor parameters of girls in aerobic gymnastics

2014 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 55-58
Author(s):  
M. Tibenská ◽  
H. Medeková
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Body Height ◽  
Sport Performance ◽  
Z Score ◽  
Anthropometric Parameters ◽  
Percentage Of Body Fat ◽  
Standing Long Jump ◽  
Z Scores ◽  
Long Jump ◽  
Shuttle Run

Abstract This study presents the evaluation of chosen anthropometric and motor parameters in group of female junior competitors throughout the course of 2-year preparation of aerobic gymnastics by means of Z-scores. The observed group consisted of 12 girls (average age at the beginning of observance 14.08 ± 1.19 years). Evaluation of anthropometric (body height, body weight, body mass index, percentage of body fat, acting body weight) and motor parameters (sit-ups in 30 seconds and 60 seconds, pull-ups to bar, modified push-ups, standing long jump, backwards tandem walking, shuttle run 4×10 m, Jacík’s test) was carried out in standard conditions in nine girls at 3-month intervals. It has been confirmed that female probands with higher Z-score of motor parameters together with lower Z-score of anthropometric parameters achieved higher sport performance during the 2-year observance at competitions, with an exception of one such proband.

Phase-Specific Force and Time Predictors of Standing Long Jump Distance

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
John R. Harry ◽  
John Krzyszkowski ◽  
Luke D. Chowning ◽  
Kristof Kipp
Keyword(s):  
National Collegiate Athletic Association ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Vertical Force ◽  
Jump Height ◽  
Strength Index ◽  
Phase Duration ◽  
Standing Long Jump ◽  
Jump Distance ◽  
Long Jump ◽  
Force Time

This study sought to identify potential predictors of standing long jump (SLJ) performance using force–time strategy metrics within the unloading, eccentric yielding, eccentric braking, and concentric phases. Fifteen National Collegiate Athletic Association division 1 male soccer players (19 [1] y, 1.81 [0.94] m, 80.3 [22.4] kg) performed 3 maximum-effort SLJs, while 3-dimensional ground reaction force (GRF) data were obtained. Regularized regression models were used to investigate associations between force–time strategy metrics and 2 metrics of SLJ performance (ie, jump distance and modified reactive strength index). Jump height and eccentric yielding time were the only predictors of jump distance that also demonstrated large correlations to jump distance. Anterior–posterior unloading yank, average concentric vertical force, and concentric phase duration were the only predictors of modified reactive strength index that also demonstrated large correlations to modified reactive strength index. To maximize SLJ distance in high-level soccer athletes, human performance practitioners could design interventions to drive changes in strategy to increase jump height and decrease eccentric yielding time. To improve SLJ explosiveness, interventions to drive changes in unloading and concentric force application and decrease concentric time could be emphasized. Importantly, unique variable combinations can be targeted when training for SLJ distance and explosiveness adaptations.

CHANGES IN THE LEVEL OF FITNESS AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDREN FROM FIRST-GRADE SWIMMING CLASSES COMPARED TO PEERS

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (79) ◽  
pp. 71-84
Author(s):  
Hanna Żukowska ◽  
Mirosława Szark-Eckardt
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Training Group ◽  
First Grade ◽  
Physical Development ◽  
Hand Strength ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Strength Measurement ◽  
Standing Long Jump ◽  
Long Jump

Introduction. In the changes occurring in competitive sport, proper choice and selection for sport and the age of starting the training are of great importance. Aim. Determining the magnitude of changes in physical fitness and physical development of first-grade children practicing swimming in relation to the non-training peers. Material and methods. The study included two groups of children - the first one was a children practicing swimming (26 boys and 23 girls) and the second one was a non-training class (26 boys and 23 girls). In both groups, MTSF trials were conducted in September and June. The results of the study focused on three aspects: the evaluation of sexual dimorphism, the identification of differences and their direction between groups and sex. Results. There were no statistically significant differences in physical development among children who practiced swimming. There were statistically significant differences in body heights in the non-training group - only in the first study (boys – 120.30; girls – 117.86) also in body weight in the first study (boys – 24.57; girls – 21.22) and also in the second study (boys – 26,80; girls – 22,83). In the assessment of physical fitness, in the group of children training swimming, sexual dimorphism was found in: standing long jump (only in the first study boys – 151,65, girls – 134,96); hand strength measurement (only in the first study boys – 23.5; girls – 19,36); bent arm hang, both in the first study (boys – 13,40; girls – 7,70) and also in the second study (ch-14,46; dz-6,31); forward stretches (only in the first study boys – 5; girls – 1.34); 4x10m run both in the first study (boys – 14,54; girls – 15,23) and also in the second study (boys – 13,66; girls – 15,11). Whereas, in the control group in: standing long jump (also only in the first study boys – 107.78; hand strength measurement in both the first study (boys – 18,95; girls – 12,26) as in the second study (boys – 12,09; girls – 12,77); bent arm hang (only in the first study (boys – 8.21; girls – 3.02); forward stretches in both the first (boys – 2,43; girls – 1,30) as in the second study (boys – 3,30; girls – 2,19). Conclusions. In both groups, boys as well as girls reported statistically significant changes in physical development, which is a normal symptom of growth, but only in the group of girls a statistically significant increase in BMI occured. In evaluating swimming training and its effect on fitness, it can be stated that the boys were positively influenced by such tests as (bent arm hang and sit-ups) and negatively by 50 m and 600 m run. On the other hand, among girls: positive only in the sit-ups test, and negative, as in the group of boys in at 50 m and 600 m run. In the group of girls, it was also noted that the trainees, despite the fact that in the first study achieved a significantly better result in the bent arm hang test, in the second attempt they obtained a considerably weaker result, while the non-training girls in the second measurement achieved a statistically better result than the first one.

Effects of Drop Height on Jump Performance in Male and Female Elite Adolescent Handball Players

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 674-680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olaf Prieske ◽  
Helmi Chaabene ◽  
Christian Puta ◽  
David G. Behm ◽  
Dirk Büsch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Peak Height ◽  
Height Velocity ◽  
Medium Size ◽  
Drop Height ◽  
Peak Height Velocity ◽  
Adolescent Athletes ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Standing Long Jump ◽  
Long Jump ◽  
Split Time

Purpose: To examine the effects of drop height on drop-jump (DJ) performance and on associations between DJ and horizontal-jump/sprint performances in adolescent athletes. Methods: Male (n = 119, 2.5 [0.6] y post-peak-height velocity) and female (n = 120, 2.5 [0.5] y post-peak-height velocity) adolescent handball players (national level) performed DJs in randomized order using 3 drop heights (20, 35, and 50 cm). DJ performance (jump height, reactive strength index [RSI]) was analyzed using the Optojump Next system. In addition, correlations were computed between DJ height and RSI with standing-long-jump and 20-m linear-sprint performances. Results: Statistical analyses revealed medium-size main effects of drop height for DJ height and RSI (P < .001, 0.63 ≤ d ≤ 0.71). Post hoc tests indicated larger DJ heights from 20 to 35 and 35 to 50 cm (P ≤ .031, 0.33 ≤ d ≤ 0.71) and better RSI from 20- to 35-cm drop height (P < .001, d = 0.77). No significant difference was found for RSI between 35- and 50-cm drop height. Irrespective of drop height, associations of DJ height and RSI were small with 5-m-split time (−.27 ≤ r ≤ .05), medium with 10-m-split time (−.44 ≤ r ≤ .14), and medium to large with 20-m sprint time and standing-long-jump distance (−.57 ≤ r ≤ .22). Conclusions: The present findings indicate that, irrespective of sex, 35-cm drop heights are best suited to induce rapid and powerful DJ performance (ie, RSI) during reactive strength training in elite adolescent handball players. Moreover, training-related gains in DJ performance may at least partly translate to gains in horizontal jump and longer sprint distances (ie, ≥20-m) and/or vice versa in male and female elite adolescent athletes, irrespective of drop height.

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