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Sankari M, Vaara JP, Pihlainen K, Ojanen T, Kyröläinen H. Lower-body muscular power predicts performance on urban combat simulation. Work 2024; 77:1331-1340. [PMID: 38517830 DOI: 10.3233/wor-230239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Military operations in urban environments requires faster movements and therefore may place greater demands on soldier strength and anaerobic ability. OBJECTIVE The aim was to study how physical fitness and body composition are associated with occupational test for urban combat soldiers before and after a 5-day military field exercise (MFE). METHODS Twenty-six conscripts (age = 20±1 yrs.) volunteered, of which thirteen completed the study. Occupational performance was determined by using the newly developed Urban Combat Simulation test (UCS); which included 50-m sprinting, moving a truck tire (56 kg) 2 meters with a sledgehammer, a 12-m kettlebell carry (2×20 kg) up the stairs with a 3-m ascent, 4-time sandbag lifts (20 kg) with obstacle crossing, and a 20-m mannequin (85 kg) drag. Aerobic and muscle fitness, as well as anaerobic capacity were measured, and, body composition was assessed with multifrequency bioimpedance analysis. RESULTS The UCS performance correlated significantly with standing long jump performance, as well as lower and upper body maximal strength before (r = -0.56 to -0.66) and after (r = -0.59 to -0.68) MFE, and, with body mass and FFM before (r = -0.81 to -0.83) and after (r = -0.86 to -0.91) MFE. In the regression analyses, fat free mass (R2 = 0.50, p = 0.01) and counter movement jump in combat load (R2 = 0.46, p = 0.009) most strongly explained the UCS performance. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that muscle mass and lower body explosive force production together with maximal strength are key fitness components related to typical urban combat soldiers' military tasks. Physical training developing these components are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matias Sankari
- Department of Leadership and Military Pedagogy, National Defence University, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jani P Vaara
- Department of Leadership and Military Pedagogy, National Defence University, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kai Pihlainen
- Training Division of Defence Command, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tommi Ojanen
- Human Performance Division, Finnish Defence Research Agency, Tuusula, Finland
| | - Heikki Kyröläinen
- Department of Leadership and Military Pedagogy, National Defence University, Helsinki, Finland
- Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
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Ojanen T, Pihlainen K, Vaara JP, Kyröläinen H. Performance changes during repeated military occupational test and its associations to physical performance. ERGONOMICS 2023; 66:2223-2231. [PMID: 36939035 DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2023.2193869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The present study investigated performance changes during three runs (1 min recovery) of repeated military simulation task test (RMST) and its associations with physical performance. Voluntary male soldiers (N = 114) participated in a series of measurements of physical performance. Lower body explosive force production, anaerobic endurance and upper body strength endurance together explained 58% of the variance in the first RSMT (p < 0.001). The same variables explained the variance in the second and third runs of RSMT by 60% and 51%, but explosive force production was replaced with aerobic endurance, assessed by the 3.2 km loaded run (p < 0.001). This study demonstrated that the role of explosive power of the lower body decreased and military specific aerobic endurance increased when occupational performance was assessed under acute fatigue even during a short high-intensity test. These results may benefit tactical strength and conditioning coaches in training optimisation for improved occupational performance in military.Practioners summary: Soldiers are required to perform occupational tasks in a repeated manner with short recovery time. In the present study, the role of explosive power of the lower body decreased and military specific aerobic endurance increased when occupational performance was assessed with a repeated high-intensity task specific performance test.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tommi Ojanen
- Finnish Defence Research Agency, Finnish Defence Forces, Järvenpää, Finland
| | - Kai Pihlainen
- Defence Command, Finnish Defence Forces, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jani P Vaara
- Department of Leadership and Military Pedagogy, National Defence University, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Heikki Kyröläinen
- Department of Leadership and Military Pedagogy, National Defence University, Helsinki, Finland
- Biology of Physical Activity, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
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Stein JA, Karl JP, Berryman CE, Harris MN, Rood JC, Pasiakos SM, Lieberman HR. Metabolomics of testosterone enanthate administration during severe-energy deficit. Metabolomics 2022; 18:100. [PMID: 36450940 PMCID: PMC9712311 DOI: 10.1007/s11306-022-01955-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Testosterone administration attenuates reductions in total body mass and lean mass during severe energy deficit (SED). OBJECTIVES This study examined the effects of testosterone administration on the serum metabolome during SED. METHODS In a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, non-obese men were randomized to receive 200-mg testosterone enanthate/wk (TEST) (n = 24) or placebo (PLA) (n = 26) during a 28-d inpatient, severe exercise- and diet-induced energy deficit. This study consisted of three consecutive phases. Participants were free-living and provided a eucaloric diet for 14-d during Phase 1. During Phase 2, participants were admitted to an inpatient unit, randomized to receive testosterone or placebo, and underwent SED for 28-d. During Phase 3, participants returned to their pre-study diet and physical activity habits. Untargeted metabolite profiling was conducted on serum samples collected during each phase. Body composition was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry after 11-d of Phase 1 and after 25-d of Phase 2 to determine changes in fat and lean mass. RESULTS TEST had higher (Benjamini-Hochberg adjusted, q < 0.05) androgenic steroid and acylcarnitine, and lower (q < 0.05) amino acid metabolites after SED compared to PLA. Metabolomic differences were reversed by Phase 3. Changes in lean mass were associated (Bonferroni-adjusted, p < 0.05) with changes in androgenic steroid metabolites (r = 0.42-0.70), acylcarnitines (r = 0.37-0.44), and amino acid metabolites (r = - 0.36-- 0.37). Changes in fat mass were associated (p < 0.05) with changes in acylcarnitines (r = - 0.46-- 0.49) and changes in urea cycle metabolites (r = 0.60-0.62). CONCLUSION Testosterone administration altered androgenic steroid, acylcarnitine, and amino acid metabolites, which were associated with changes in body composition during SED.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse A. Stein
- Military Nutrition Division, US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM), Natick, MA USA
| | - J. Philip Karl
- Military Nutrition Division, US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM), Natick, MA USA
| | - Claire E. Berryman
- Military Nutrition Division, US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM), Natick, MA USA
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL USA
| | - Melissa N. Harris
- Louisiana State University’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA USA
| | - Jennifer C. Rood
- Louisiana State University’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA USA
| | - Stefan M. Pasiakos
- Military Nutrition Division, US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM), Natick, MA USA
| | - Harris R. Lieberman
- Military Nutrition Division, US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM), Natick, MA USA
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Stein JA, Hepler TC, DeBlauw JA, Beattie CM, Beshirs CD, Holte KM, Kurtz BK, Hatch-McChesney A, Heinrich KM, Farina EK. Anthropometrics and body composition predict performance during a simulated direct-fire engagement. ERGONOMICS 2022:1-12. [PMID: 36006381 DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2022.2117420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This study determined anthropometric and body composition predictors of performance during a simulated direct-fire engagement. Healthy subjects (N = 33, age = 25.7 ± 7.0 yr) underwent anthropometric and body composition assessments before completing a simulated direct-fire engagement - consisting of marksmanship with cognitive workload assessment and a fire-and-move drill (16 × 6-m sprints) while wearing combat load. Susceptibility to enemy fire was modelled on sprint duration. Partial correlations and multiple linear regressions established the relationships between predictors and performance outcomes, controlling for age and sex. Significance was p ≤ 0.05. Higher percent body fat, fat mass, fight load index predicted greater susceptibility to enemy fire (r = 0.40 to 0.42) and lower cognitive performance (r= -0.45 to -0.49). Higher BMI also predicted lower cognitive performance (r= -0.49). Shorter stature/hand length predicted higher marksmanship accuracy (r= -0.40), while higher fat-free mass/fat-free mass index predicted slower reaction times (r = 0.36-0.41). These data suggest anthropometric and body composition measures modulate combat effectiveness and reinforce body composition standards in military organisations. Practitioner summary: This study identified field-expedient anthropometric and body composition predictors of a simulated direct-fire engagement that evaluated survivability (i.e. susceptibility to enemy fire) and lethality (i.e. marksmanship, cognitive performance) outcomes. Our findings suggest that anthropometric and body composition measures may play a role in soldier survivability and lethality during simulated direct-fire engagements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse A Stein
- Military Nutrition Division, US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA, USA
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
- Department of Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Timothy C Hepler
- Department of Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
- US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, Natick, MA, USA
| | - Justin A DeBlauw
- Department of Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Cassandra M Beattie
- Department of Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Chaddrick D Beshirs
- Department of Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Kendra M Holte
- Department of Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Brady K Kurtz
- Department of Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Adrienne Hatch-McChesney
- Military Nutrition Division, US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA, USA
| | - Katie M Heinrich
- Department of Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Emily K Farina
- Military Nutrition Division, US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA, USA
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