title: The role of strength and power during performance of high intensity military tasks under heavy load carriage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous research has investigated the physiological determinants of heavy load carriage while performing medium to long distance road marching, yet research examining the physiological underpinnings of high-intensity battlefield tasks is limited. This study sought to examine the role of strength and power during high-intensity combat tasks under heavy load carriage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen recreationally trained men (mean±SD: age, 21±2 years; height, 172±6 cm; weight, 80±13 kg) participated in this study and performed an anaerobic combat course under 2 randomized experimental conditions; unloaded and loaded. Subjects performed 3 trials under each condition on separate days, with a 5-minute rest between each trial. In the unloaded trial, subjects wore a uniform with boots weighing approximately 3.2 kg. During the loaded trial, in addition to the uniform and boots, subjects wore Interceptor body armor (6.94 kg-9.10 kg) and a MOLLE rucksack weighing 30 kg. The course consisted of 3 consecutive tasks, which began from the prone position, led into a 30 m sprint, followed by a 27 m zigzag run, and ended with a 10 m casualty drag weighing approximately 79.4 kg.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pearson correlations showed significant (P≤.05) strong correlations between lower body strength (r=-0.63, -0.62), lower body power (r=-0.67, -0.67) and upper body strength (r=-0.60, -0.62) and overall performance times in the unloaded and loaded condition, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Strength and power are strongly related to high-intensity military tasks with and without heavy load carriage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Leadership, University of Connecticut.
authors.forename: Jesse
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mala
authors.forename: Tunde K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Szivak
authors.forename: Shawn D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Flanagan
authors.forename: Brett A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Comstock
authors.forename: Justin Z
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Laferrier
authors.forename: Carl M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Maresh
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Kraemer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008889:Military Personnel; D053580:Muscle Strength; D064797:Physical Conditioning, Human; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: battlefield; physiological determinants; resistance training; soldier