Predicting Soldier Load Carriage Performance

Abstract

Completing a load carriage (LC) task is the best method for assessing a recruit’s potential to perform this critical Soldiering task, but the use of physical fitness tests (PFTs) to predict their potential is more time efficient and may mitigate injury risk. PURPOSE: To determine the relationship between PFTs and walking LC performance. METHODS: While wearing ~46.7 kg load, 553 male and 230 female Soldiers performed a 4-mile LC on flat terrain. Soldiers also performed 14 PFTs while wearing shorts, t-shirts and athletic shoes including: 1-minute push-ups, Handgrip, 2-minute Arm Ergometer (AE), 38 cm Upright Pull (UP), Isometric Bicep Curl (IBC), Medicine Ball Put (MBP), Dumbbell Squat Lift (SL), Standing Long Jump (LJ), 300 m Sprint (SP), Illinois Agility test (IA), Beep Test (BT), 9 kg Powerball Throw (PBT), 20 m Sled Drag (RP), and 1-minute sit-ups. RESULTS: Time to complete LC was 75.7 ± 7.6 min (mean ± SD). All PFTs were significantly correlated (Pearson’s r) with LC time: push-ups, -0.49; HG, -0.49; AE, -0.54; UP, -0.52; IBC, -0.53; MBP, -0.56; SL, -0.54; SP, 0.53; IA, 0.35; LJ, -0.45; BT, -0.46; PBT, -0.56; RP, -0.55; sit-ups, -0.18. A stepwise multiple regression was used to develop the following equation (SEE = 8:27 min:sec): LC(min)=119.197 – 1.727 (MBP m) – 0.132 (BT s) – 0.109 (SL kg) – 0.034 (AE rev/min) – 4.344 (RP m/sec). The equation explained 43% of the variability (R2) of LC times (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: A Soldier’s potential to complete the LC can be predicted by a model using 5 PFTs. Using these simple PFTs to assess an individual’s performance on a physically demanding task would be more time efficient and may decrease injury risks. The views expressed in this abstract are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy of the Department of Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.