Relationships of physical performance tests to military-relevant tasks in women.
OBJECTIVE
This investigation sought to determine the most predictive measures of performance on a repetitive box lifting task (RBLT) and load bearing task (LBT) among 123 women (aged ±4 years, height 165±7 cm, body mass 64±10 kg).


METHODS
To determine the relationship of various predictors to performance on the RBLT and LBT, multiple regression analysis was conducted on body mass, height, leg cross-sectional area, upper and lower body muscular strength, lower body explosive power, upper and lower body local muscular endurance, and aerobic capacity.


RESULTS
The mean±SD (range) number of repetitions for the RBLT was 86±23 (20-159). The mean±SD (range) time to complete the LBT was 2,054±340 seconds (1,307-3,447). The following equations were generated: RBLT (number of repetitions)=57.4+0.2(peak jump power)+0.4(number of pushups in 2 minutes)+0.15(number of repetitions during the squat endurance test)+1.39(one repetition maximal strength boxlift (kg))-0.04(2-mile run time (2MR) in seconds), R=0.81; standard error of the estimate (SEE)=14; LBT (in seconds)=1,831-4.28(number of repetitions during the squat endurance test)+0.95(2MR in seconds)-13.4(body mass), R=0.73; SEE=232.


CONCLUSIONS
We found that the 2MR and squat endurance test were significant predictive factors for performance on both load carriage tasks. These data also imply that women's performance in combat-related tasks can be improved with training that targets muscular strength, power, and local muscular endurance in addition to aerobic capacity.
Dept of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs CT.
Tunde K
TK
Szivak
William J
WJ
Kraemer
Bradley C
BC
Nindl
Lincoln A
LA
Gotshalk
Jeff S
JS
Volek
Ana L
AL
Gomez
Courtenay
C
Dunn-Lewis
David P
DP
Looney
Brett A
BA
Comstock
David R
DR
Hooper
Shawn D
SD
Flanagan
Carl M
CM
Maresh
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel; D015233:Models, Statistical; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012420:Running; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013848:Thigh / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
army physical readiness test; load carriage; warfighter; women