Gender differences in the physical demands of British Army recruit training

This study examined gender differences in the physical demands of British Army recruit training in 3 platoons with different gender compositions. Subjects wore heart rate monitors to measure cardiovascular strain and accelerometers to measure physical activity during weeks 1, 6, and 9 of the 12-week...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Military medicine 2009-08, Vol.174 (8), p.811-816
Main Authors: Blacker, Sam D, Wilkinson, David M, Rayson, Mark P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Anthropometry
Body composition
Energy Metabolism
Exercise
Female
Females
Gender differences
Health Status
Heart Rate
Humans
Male
Males
Military Medicine - statistics & numerical data
Military Personnel - statistics & numerical data
Military training
Motor Activity
Physical Endurance
Physical Fitness
Pilot Projects
Sex Factors
United Kingdom
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Summary:This study examined gender differences in the physical demands of British Army recruit training in 3 platoons with different gender compositions. Subjects wore heart rate monitors to measure cardiovascular strain and accelerometers to measure physical activity during weeks 1, 6, and 9 of the 12-week program. There was no difference in physical activity between platoons or genders (p > 0.05). In the mixed gender platoon, males operated at a lower cardiovascular strain than females (24 +/- 2 vs. 33 +/- 2% heart rate reserve (HRR), p < 0.001), probably because of their greater aerobic fitness (p < 0.001). Males in the mixed gender platoon experienced lower cardiovascular strain than the male-only platoon (24 +/- 2 vs. 33 +/- 2% HRR, p < 0.001). Females experienced the same degree of cardiovascular strain, irrespective of platoon (33 +/- 2 vs. 33 +/- 3% HRR, p = 0.814). The additional cardiovascular strain experienced by female recruits may increase fatigue and predisposition to overuse musculoskeletal injury.
ISSN:0026-4075
1930-613X
DOI:10.7205/MILMED-D-01-3708