Relationship between physical work performance and age.

Abstract

The ten Basic Fitness Tests of Fleishman and the five tests of the Army Physical Combat Proficiency Test were administered to 149 Special Forces soldiers ranging in age from 19-39. The means and standard deviations of each test by age group and the relative performance of the separate age groups on the tests are presented. Nine of the 15 tests (Dodge-Run-Jump, Mile Run, Extent Flexibility, 600-Yard Run, Cable Jump, Dynamic Flexibility, Softball Throw, Grenade Throw, and Pull-ups) showed a relatively consistent downward trend from 19 to approximately 30 years of age. The remaining six tests (Shuttle Run, Hand Grip, Leg Lifts, Balance, Low Crawl, and Horizontal Ladder) did not show the downward trend to age 30 and did not show a drop at age 30. From age 30 to 39 none of the tests showed a consistent downward trend, while four showed a relatively consistent improvement in performance, four showed relatively stable performance and the means of seven tests were somewhat erratic. These results were inconsistent...