Relationships of physical performance tests to military-relevant tasks in women

• Published in: U.S. Army Medical Department journal p. 20
• Main Authors: Szivak, Tunde K, Kraemer, William J, Nindl, Bradley C, Gotshalk, Lincoln A, Volek, Jeff S, Gomez, Ana L, Dunn-Lewis, Courtenay, Looney, David P, Comstock, Brett A, Hooper, David R, Flanagan, Shawn D, Maresh, Carl M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-04-2014
• Subjects: Adult; Female; Humans; Military Medicine; Military Personnel; Models, Statistical; Muscle Strength - physiology; Physical Endurance - physiology; Regression Analysis; Running; Task Performance and Analysis; Thigh - anatomy & histology; Thigh - physiology; Young Adult; army physical readiness test; warfighter; load carriage; women
• ISSN: 1524-0436

This investigation sought to determine the most predictive measures of performance on a repetitive box lifting task (RBLT) and load bearing task (LBT) among 123 women (aged ±4 years, height 165±7 cm, body mass 64±10 kg).
To determine the relationship of various predictors to performance on the RBLT and LBT, multiple regression analysis was conducted on body mass, height, leg cross-sectional area, upper and lower body muscular strength, lower body explosive power, upper and lower body local muscular endurance, and aerobic capacity.
The mean±SD (range) number of repetitions for the RBLT was 86±23 (20-159). The mean±SD (range) time to complete the LBT was 2,054±340 seconds (1,307-3,447). The following equations were generated: RBLT (number of repetitions)=57.4+0.2(peak jump power)+0.4(number of pushups in 2 minutes)+0.15(number of repetitions during the squat endurance test)+1.39(one repetition maximal strength boxlift (kg))-0.04(2-mile run time (2MR) in seconds), R=0.81; standard error of the estimate (SEE)=14; LBT (in seconds)=1,831-4.28(number of repetitions during the squat endurance test)+0.95(2MR in seconds)-13.4(body mass), R=0.73; SEE=232.
We found that the 2MR and squat endurance test were significant predictive factors for performance on both load carriage tasks. These data also imply that women's performance in combat-related tasks can be improved with training that targets muscular strength, power, and local muscular endurance in addition to aerobic capacity.