Gender Differences In Preparatory Exercise Training Among Marine Recruits

Abstract

Stress fractures are a problem in military and athletic populations, particularly among women. While poor aerobic fitness levels have been associated with increased stress fracture risk in military populations, recent research suggests that lower extremity weight training may be protective. Understanding physical preparations performed by incoming Marine Corps recruits may help explain the gender difference in stress fracture occurrence during basic training. PURPOSE: The objectives of this study were to (1) assess the frequency of aerobic and weight training Marine Corps recruits participated in prior to entering basic training, and (2) identify differences in aerobic and weight regimens between male and female recruits. METHODS: A total of 911 male and 693 female Marine Corps recruits from San Diego, CA, and Parris Island, SC, voluntarily participated. Participants completed the Physical Training Footwear & Musculoskeletal Injuries Trainee Survey, highlighting their aerobic and weight regimens in the year preceding basic training. RESULTS: Significantly more female than male participants (49.9% and 18.6%, respectively; P < 0.001) reported engaging in running or jogging training 4 or more months prior to basic training. However, there was no significant difference in frequency of running or jogging in the 2 months prior to basic training (P = 0.15). Men reported weight training more often than women in the 2 months preceding basic training (women, 18.4%; men, 24.2%; P < 0.001). Additionally, nearly half of the female subjects (46.5%) reported no history of weight training in the year preceding basic training compared with 31.4% of the male subjects (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Although female recruits reported performing cardiovascular training more months prior to the start of basic training than did the males, significantly more female than male recruits reported no history of weight training. The findings suggest that women and men prepare differently for basic training. Future studies should explore how this difference in training might affect the risk of injury in basic training. This work was Supported by the Naval Health Research Center, Work Unit No. 60626.