The Effects of Various Physical Training Programs on Short Duration, High Intensity Load Bearing Performance and the Army Physical Fitness Test

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to contrast the effects of different physical training programs on short duration, high intensity load bearing performance and Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) scores. Thirty-five soldiers were randomly assigned to one of four training groups: Group A, upper and lower body resistance training and high intensity endurance training (HEIT) which included interval training; Group B, upper body resistance training and HEIT; Group C, upper and lower body resistance training only; Group D, HEIT only. Training took place four times per week (M,T,Th,F) for 12 weeks. Pre- and post- training measures were obtained for a two mile load bearing task with a total load of 44.67 kgs. APFT was administered at the pre-, mid-, and post-training time points. The results demonstrate that only Group A and Group B made significant (p<0.05) improvements in the load bearing performance task. Groups A, B, and D improved all components of their APFT scores while Group C improved in push ups and sit ups only. The results of this study suggest that a combination of running and resistance training in necessary to improve short duration, high intensity load bearing performance. Keywords: Load bearing, Physical training, Physical performance, Muscle strength, Aerobic capacity, Exercise, Performance(Human).

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1987
Accession Number
ADA185473

Entities

People

  • James A. Vogel
  • John F. Patton
  • Joseph E. Dziados
  • Katy L. Reynolds
  • William J. Kraemer

Organizations

  • United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Army Personnel
  • Bearing Capacity
  • Biological Sciences
  • Classification
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Heart Rate
  • Human Factors Engineering
  • Intensity
  • Intervals
  • Military Research
  • Physical Fitness
  • Physiology
  • Resistance
  • Security
  • Training

Fields of Study

  • Education

Readers

  • Exercise and Sports Science.
  • Instructional Design and Training Evaluation.