Kim Crawford

Less Body Fat Improves Physical and Physiological Performance in Army Soldiers

The purpose of this study was to compare physical and physiological fitness test performance between Soldiers meeting the Department of Defense (DoD) body fat standard (< or = 18%) and those exceeding the standard (> 18%). Ninety-nine male 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Soldiers were assigned to group 1: < or = 18% body fat (BF) or group 2: > 18% BE. Groups 1 and 2 had similar amounts of fat-free mass (FFM) (66.8 +/- 8.2 vs. 64.6 +/- 8.0, p = 177). Each subject performed a Wingate cycle protocol to test anaerobic power and capacity, an incremental treadmill maximal oxygen uptake test for aerobic capacity, isokinetic tests for knee flexion/extension and shoulder internal/external rotation strength, and the Army Physical Fitness Test. Results showed group 1: < 18% BF performed significantly better on 7 of the 10 fitness tests. In Soldiers with similar amounts of FFM, Soldiers with less body fat had improved aerobic and anaerobic capacity and increased muscular strength.

Physiological Differences between Male and Female Army Soldiers Matched on Age and Years of Service: 1609

US Army Soldiers must optimize physical readiness to minimize the risk of unintentional musculoskeletal injury and optimize performance. All Soldiers follow similar physical training (PT) guidelines and perform gender-integrated PT. In order to optimize performance, male and female athletes train differently; therefore it is possible that traditional PT may not specifically address the unique physical and physiological needs of female Soldiers. PURPOSE: To determine if physiological differences exist between genders in US Army Soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), controlling for age and years of service (YOS). METHODS: Data were collected on 53 female Soldiers (age= 25.8± 4.4 years, height= 1.65±0.06 m, mass= 65.9±10.3 kg) and matched with 53 male Soldiers (age= 25.5±4.2 years, height= 1.76±0.06 m, mass=83.5±13.6 kg) based on age (±3 years) and YOS (± 0.5 years). Variables analyzed were: percent body fat, total mass, lean mass, and fat mass; anaerobic power (AP)/capacity (AC); and maximal oxygen uptake (VO 2max)/lactate threshold (LT). Paired t-tests were used to compare all variables between genders. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05 a priori. RESULTS: differences in physiological variables do exist in US Army Soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). These differences have important implications for potential changes or augmentation to current PT in order to optimize physical performance. Future research should investigate other physical characteristics that may relate to injury and if targeted PT that addresses the identified suboptimal characteristics in female Soldiers mitigates the risk of unintentional musculoskeletal injury and optimizes physical readiness.