title: Effects of Age and Military Service on Strength and Physiological Characteristics of U.S. Army Soldiers.
abstract: Soldiers must maintain tactical performance capabilities over the course of their career. Loss in physical readiness may be a function of age and the operational demands associated with increasing years of service. The purpose of this study was to assess strength and physiological characteristics in different cohorts of U.S. Army Soldiers based on years of service and age. A total of 253 Soldiers (age: 28.1 ± 6.8 years; height: 1.76 ± 0.11 m; mass: 84.1 ± 12.2 kg) participated. Individual subject cohorts were created based on years of service (1-5 years, 6-10 years, 11-15 years) and age (20-24 years, 25-29 years, 30-34 years, 35-39 years, 40-44 years). Testing included shoulder, knee, ankle, and torso strength, aerobic capacity/lactate threshold, anaerobic power/capacity, and body composition/total mass. Those with 11 to 15 years of service and between ages 30 and 34 had a higher percentage of body fat, and lower aerobic capacity and lactate threshold than younger Soldiers with fewer years of service. Physical training interventions should focus on maintenance of physiological characteristics to offset the loss of readiness at the similar time point of 11 to 15 years of service and 30 to 34 years of age.
authors.affiliation: College of Health Sciences, University of Kentucky, UK Wethington Building, Room 123, 900 South Limestone, Lexington, KY 40536.
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Abt
authors.affiliation: Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, Warrior Human Performance Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, 3830 South Water Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Perlsweig
authors.affiliation: Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, Warrior Human Performance Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, 3830 South Water Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.affiliation: Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, Warrior Human Performance Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, 3830 South Water Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.
authors.forename: Timothy C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Sell
authors.affiliation: US Army Institute of Surgical Research, 3698 Chambers Pass, Building 3611, JBSA Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-6315.
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Wirt
authors.affiliation: College of Health Sciences, University of Kentucky, UK Wethington Building, Room 123, 900 South Limestone, Lexington, KY 40536.
authors.forename: Scott M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lephart
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D014481:United States