Occupational Differences in Muscle Strength of U.S. Navy Enlisted Personnel
Abstract
Injury rates are high in physically demanding U.S. Navy enlisted occupations. Injuries are particularly common among inexperienced personnel in those occupations. Overexertion is one likely cause of the excess injuries. Over time, repeated performance of physically demanding tasks may reduce injury risk by increasing strength of the personnel in physically demanding occupations. The strength of personnel in high and low physical demand occupations was compared to test this possibility. Ratings by senior enlisted personnel were used to define high- and low-demand occupations. Biceps curl, lat pull-down, shoulder press, bench press, and leg press tests performed on a Universal gym measured strength. As predicted, sailors in physically demanding occupations were stronger (p < .001 for the first principal component of the strength measures). For personnel who reported that they did not engage in regular physical training, the occupational difference was comparable to effects seen in formal resistance training programs. The difference was much smaller for personnel who reported that they did train regularly. The inference that occupational tasks provide informal resistance training is plausible when the present results are considered in the context of experimental studies of resistance training and task surveys describing the frequency and intensity of physical task demands in U.S. Navy jobs. Brief formal resistance training prior to entering the job may be a means of reducing the exceptionally high injury rates among inexperienced personnel.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA435952
Entities
People
- Edward J. Marcinik
- James A. Hodgdon
- Ross R. Vickers
Organizations
- Naval Health Research Center