title: Gender differences in the physical demands of British Army recruit training.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Optimal Performance, Ltd., Bedford House, 23 Richmond Hill, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1BA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sam D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Blacker
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: Mark P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Rayson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009043:Motor Activity; D010807:Physical Endurance; D010809:Physical Fitness; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012737:Sex Factors; D006113:United Kingdom