title: Load-carriage distance run and push-ups tests: no body mass bias and occupationally relevant.
abstract: Recent research has demonstrated body mass (M) bias in military physical fitness tests favoring lighter, not just leaner, service members. Mathematical modeling predicts that a distance run carrying a backpack of 30 lbs would eliminate M-bias. The purpose of this study was to empirically test this prediction for the U.S. Army push-ups and 2-mile run tests. Two tests were performed for both events for each of 56 university Reserve Officer Training Corps male cadets: with (loaded) and without backpack (unloaded). Results indicated significant M-bias in the unloaded and no M-bias in the loaded condition for both events. Allometrically scaled scores for both events were worse in the loaded vs. unloaded conditions, supporting a hypothesis not previously tested. The loaded push-ups and 2-mile run appear to remove M-bias and are probably more occupationally relevant as military personnel are often expected to carry external loads.
authors: The Graduate School, University of Dayton, 300 College Park, Dayton, OH 45469-1620, USA.
authors: Paul M
authors: PM
authors: Vanderburgh
authors: Nicholas S
authors: NS
authors: Mickley
authors: Philip A
authors: PA
authors: Anloague
mesh_terms: D015982:Bias; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D004864:Equipment and Supplies; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012420:Running; D016474:Weight-Bearing; D055815:Young Adult