title: The new Air Force fitness test: a field trial assessing effectiveness and safety.
abstract: Two thousand one hundred thirty-nine Air Force members were stratified in risk categories based on a questionnaire about their exercise habits and risk factors which could preclude participation in the new Air Force fitness test. Those at risk were interviewed by a practitioner and placed in a supervised fitness program or exempted from testing. All others were tested by the 1.5-mile field run. Based on these data it is estimated that 40% of the Air Force was exercising regularly and only 50% would pass the old category III standards, with 33% passing the new category IV standard. Thirteen percent of the Air Force would be in the highest risk category, but after a practitioner interview alone, only 7.9% would be exempted from testing altogether, almost all for known or suspected cardiac conditions. This screening and interviewing process is not a significant additional workload on Medical Treatment Facilities and may enhance the safety of the new Air Force fitness program.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Consultants Division, Office of the Air Force Surgeon General, Brooks AFB, TX 78235.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Sharp
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000145:classification*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D010808:Physical Examination; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires