Effects of two different eight - week training programs on military physical performance

• Autores: Everett A. Harman, David J. Gutekunst, Peter N. Frykman, Bradley C. Nindl, Joseph A. Alemany, Robert P. Mello, Marilyn A. Sharp
• Localización: Journal of strength and conditioning research: the research journal of the NSCA, ISSN 1064-8011, Vol. 22, Nº. 2, 2008, págs. 524-534
• Idioma: inglés
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• Dialnet Métricas: 3 Citas
• Resumen

  • Various physical demands are placed on soldiers, whose effectiveness and survivability depend on their combat-specific physica fitness. Because sport training programs involving weight-basec training have proven effective, this study examined the value of such a program for short-term military training using combat-relevant tests. A male weight-based training (WBT) group (n = 15. mean ± SD: 27.0 ± 4.7 years, 173.8 ± 5.8 cm, 80.9 ± 12.7 kg) performed full-body weight-based training workouts, 3.2-km runs, interval training, agility training, and progressively loaded 8-km backpack hikes. A male Army Standardized Physical Training (SPT) group (n = 17; mean ± SD: 29.0 ± 4.6 years, 1 79.7 ± 8.2 cm, 84.5 ± 10.4 kg) followed the new Army Standardized Physical Training program of stretching, varied calisthenics, movement drills, sprint intervals, shuttle running, and distance runs. Both groups exercised for 1.5 hours a day, 5 days a week for 8 weeks. The following training-induced changes were statistically significant (P < 0.05) for both training groups: 3.2-km run or walk with 32-kg load (minutes), 24.5 ± 3.2 to 21.0 ± 2.8 (SPT) and 24.9 ± 2.8 to 21.1 ± 2.2 (WBT); 400-m run with 18-kg load (seconds), 94.5 ± 14.2 to 84.4 ± 11.9 (SPT) and 100.1 ± 16.1 to 84.0 ± 8.4 (WBT); obstacle course with 18-kg load (seconds), 73.3 ± 10.1 to 61.6 ± 7.7 (SPT) and 66.8 ± 10.0 to 60.1 ± 8.7 (WBT); 5 30-m sprints to prone (seconds), 63.5 ± 4.8 to 59.8 ± 4.1 (SPT) and 60.4 ± 4.2 to 58.9 2.7 (WBT); and 80-kg casualty rescue from 50 m (seconds), 65.8 ± 40.0 to 42.1 ± 9.9 (SPT) and 57.6 ± 22.0 to 44.2 8.8 (WBT). Of these tests, only the obstacle course showed significant difference in improvement between the two training groups. Thus, for short-term (i.e., 8-week) training of relatively untrained men, the Army's new Standardized Physical Training program and a weight-based training experimental program can produce similar, significant, and meaningful improvements in military physical performance. Further research would be needed to determine whether weight-based training provides an advantage over a longer training period.