Effects of a Training Program for Special Operations Battalion on Soldiers' Fitness Characteristics

Sporiš, Goran; Harasin, Dražen; Bok, Daniel; Matika, Dario; Vuleta, Dinko

doi:10.1519/jsc.0b013e318242966c

Cited by 26 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…23 Prolonged military field training and operations have been shown to lead to a decrease in muscular strength and power. 24,25 Vantarakis et al 26 studied specific conditioning of muscle endurance and strength among Naval Academy cadets for an 8week study period when the experimental group participated in a linear periodised strength training program in addition to their daily training. The exclusive training of the experimental group included uni-and multilateral resistance training exercises such as squats, deadlifts, lunges, bench presses, arm curls etc.…”

Section: Strength Trainingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite the interference effect in high-fit individuals such as special operators, a well-design periodisation of the training program is required for improving physical performance. Thus, some studies have concentrated on physical training interventions in professional soldiers, mainly in special force operators 25,52,53 and interventions on military occupational specialties, such as load-carriage performance. 54 Abt et al 53 studied the effects of block-periodised and non-linear periodised training in Naval Special Warfare operators with 85 soldiers during 12 weeks.…”

Section: Combined Strength and Endurance Trainingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Optimising training adaptations and performance in military environment

Kyröläinen

Pihlainen

Vaara

et al. 2018

Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport

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The present study demonstrated that military training needs a greater variation in training stimulus to induce more effective training adaptations, especially, when considering the development of maximal or explosive strength and maximal aerobic capacity. Training programs should be well periodised so that total training load increases progressively but also includes sufficient recovery periods. In addition, some individualized programming is required to avoid unnecessary injuries and overloading because the differences in initial physical fitness of soldiers can be very high.

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Section: Strength Trainingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Combined Strength and Endurance Trainingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimising training adaptations and performance in military environment

Kyröläinen

Pihlainen

Vaara

et al. 2018

Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport

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“…In contrast, the YBT-UQ was correlated with the results of tests measuring core stability and upper extremity performance. 19 The SMBT is used widely as an assessment tool for bilateral upper body power in athletes, 22À26 older adults, 27 collegiate and university students, 28,29 soldiers, 30 healthy nonathletic individuals, 31 and children. 32À34 Nevertheless, research on the relationship between the SMBT and strength and power variables is limited, especially within an overhead athlete population.…”

Section: 11à17mentioning

confidence: 99%

Upper Quadrant Field Tests and Isokinetic Upper Limb Strength in Overhead Athletes

Borms

Maenhout

Cools

2016

Journal of Athletic Training

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Context: Isokinetic testing is used to determine possible deficits in upper extremity strength in overhead athletes. Given that isokinetic testing is restricted to a laboratory setting, field tests, such as the Seated Medicine Ball Throw (SMBT) and Upper Quarter Y-Balance Test (YBT-UQ), were developed to assess upper body performance. The relationships between these field tests and isokinetic strength have not been examined.Objective: To investigate the relationship between isokinetic strength testing for shoulder external and internal rotation and elbow flexion and extension and SMBT distance and YBT-UQ performance in overhead athletes.Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Institutional laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: A total of 29 healthy overhead athletes (14 men, 15 women; age ¼ 21.6 6 2.5 years, height ¼ 177.7 6 9.7 cm, mass ¼ 70.3 6 11.5 kg).Intervention(s): A Biodex dynamometer was used to measure the isokinetic strength of the shoulder and elbow muscles. Upper extremity performance was assessed using the SMBT and YBT-UQ.Main Outcome Measure(s): We used Pearson correlation coefficients and coefficients of determination to analyze the relationship between SMBT and YBT-UQ performance and the isokinetic strength variables.Results: We observed moderate to strong correlations between the SMBT and isokinetic shoulder and elbow strength (r range ¼ 0.595À0.855) but no correlations between the YBT-UQ and isokinetic strength variables. The shared variance between these strength variables and the SMBT ranged from 35.4% to 64.5% for shoulder strength and 58.5% to 73.1% for elbow strength.Conclusions: These findings suggested that the SMBT is a reliable, low-cost, and easy-and quick-to-administer alternative to isokinetic testing for evaluating upper extremity strength in a clinical setting. Performance on the YBT-UQ did not seem to be related to upper limb strength and, therefore, cannot be used for this purpose. Using the YBT-UQ for other purposes may have value.Key Words: shoulder, elbow, Seated Medicine Ball Throw, Y-Balance Test Key PointsPerformance on the Seated Medicine Ball Throw was moderately to strongly correlated with isokinetic tests for shoulder external-and internal-rotation muscles and elbow flexors and extensors in a sample of overhead athletes. These observations may provide athletic trainers and physical therapists with a reliable, low-cost, and easy-and quick-to-administer alternative to isokinetic testing for evaluating upper extremity strength in a clinical setting. Performance on the Y-Balance Test-Upper Quarter did not seem to be related to upper limb strength and, therefore, cannot be used for this purpose. Performance on the Y-Balance Test-Upper Quarter can help determine rehabilitation goals for injured overhead athletes because no differences existed between the dominant and nondominant limbs in the study population. Investigators should explore the value of these field tests for preventing shoulder injuries.

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“…Considering that in the loading phase a typical creatine regime includes 20–25 g/day, this high quantity combined with a long supplementation period can potentially cause a cumulative detrimental effect on users’ renal health. Additionally, military groups such as SOF units operating under hot and humid conditions for long periods while carrying heavy loads74 may magnify potential adverse health effects of creatine which are considered negligible in athletes who participate in controllable short-term exercise trials.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The use of creatine supplements in the military

Havenetidis

2015

J R Army Med Corps

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IntroductionCreatine is considered an effective nutritional ergogenic aid to enhance exercise performance. In spite of the publication of several reviews in the last decade on the topic of exercise performance/sports and creatine there is a need for an update related to the military given the lack of information in this area. The aim of this study was to critically assess original research addressing the use of creatine supplements in the military. Methods A search of the electronic databases PubMed and SPORTDiscus, for the following key words: military personnel, trainees, recruit, soldier, physical fitness, physical conditioning, creatine supplementation, creatine ingestion, nutritional supplements to identify surveys and randomised clinical trials from journal articles and technical reports investigating the effect of creatine supplementation on military populations. Results Thirty-three out of 90 articles examined the use of creatine as a dietary supplement in military personnel. Twenty-one studies were finally selected on the basis of stated inclusion criteria for military surveys and randomised clinical trials. Most of the surveys (15/17) in the military indicate a high popularity of creatine (average 27%) among supplement users. In contrast, in most of the exercise protocols used (6/9) during randomised clinical trials creatine has produced a nonsignificant performance-enhancing effect. Conclusions Creatine is one of the most widely used supplemental compounds in the military. It is not considered a doping infraction or related to any adverse health effects but its long-term usage needs further investigation. Experimental research suggests that creatine supplementation does not enhance physical performance in the military. However, limitations in creatine dosage, military fitness testing and sample group selection might have underestimated the ergogenic properties of creatine. Recent studies also indicate positive effects on various aspects of total force fitness such as cognitive-psychomotor performance, bone health, musculoskeletal damage and neuromuscular function.

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Effects of a Training Program for Special Operations Battalion on Soldiers' Fitness Characteristics

Cited by 26 publications

References 31 publications

Optimising training adaptations and performance in military environment

Optimising training adaptations and performance in military environment

Upper Quadrant Field Tests and Isokinetic Upper Limb Strength in Overhead Athletes

The use of creatine supplements in the military

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