Effects of a Specifically Designed Physical Conditioning Program on the Load Carriage and Lifting Performance of Female Soldiers.
Abstract
Forty-six women were studied to determine whether their ability to perform 'very heavy' Army jobs could be improved by a specially designed 24-week physical training program administered within normal Army time constraints; 32 subjects remained for the entire testing and training program. The training program proved effective'. The weight of boxes the -women could lift to three different heights improved between 30% and 47%. After training, the average box-weight the women could lift onto a truck was 118 pounds, 81% of the Army male value. The number of 40-pound boxes the women could lift onto a truck in 10 minutes increased from 106 to 140. The number of 40-pound boxes that could be lifted off the ground, carried 25 feet and placed onto a truck increased from 53 to 62. Vertical jump and standing long jump distance increased 20% and 15% respectively. The speed at which a 75 pound backpack could be carried over a 2-mile mixed-terrain course increased from 3.4 to 4.4 miles per hour. Before the training, only 24% of the women could qualify for 'very heavy' Army jobs; after the training, 78% could qualify. Body composition improved as well.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA330237
Entities
People
- C. Palmer
- Eric Lammi
- Everett Harman
- Katy Reynolds
- Peter Frykman
Organizations
- United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine