Maroni, T. D., Myers, S. D., Draper, J., Ashdown, K., Walker, F. S., Alexander, B. and Blacker, S. D. (2025) An ergonomic assessment of British Army Infantry career training courses to identify opportunities for evidence-based interventions to enhance role-related physical fitness. Ergonomics. pp. 1-16. ISSN 0014-0139
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Abstract
An ergonomic assessment was conducted to quantify the activities and physical demands during the British Army’s 8-week Platoon Sergeant and Section Commander Battle Courses (PSBC, SCBC). Twenty PSBC and 18 SCBC male infantry soldiers volunteered. Body Mass (BM) was measured pre- and post-course, with course physical activity levels (PAL), energy expenditure (EE) and sleep profiles quantified using tri-axial accelerometery. The courses were predominately field-based, involving slow and rapid load carriage tasks, digging and moving casualties. Average daily EE (SCBC = 4020 ± 599 vs. PSBC = 3876 ± 525 kcal.day−1; p>0.05) and BM decreases were similar (SCBC = −3.9 ± 2.9 vs. PSBC = −2.0 ± 2.7 kg; p>0.05). Daily PAL was higher for SCBC than PSBC (2.1 ± 0.3 vs. 2.0 ± 0.3, p=0.041), likely due to greater moderate-vigorous activity levels (p=0.003). Daily sleep durations were variable, but similar across courses (≈5.1 hr.day−1; p>0.05). These data confirm these courses are arduous and can be used to inform course-specific physical screening tests and training to increase course success.
Publication Type: | Articles |
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Uncontrolled Keywords: | military performance, job-tasks, physical training, energy expenditure, arduous courses |
Subjects: | G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV201 Physical education and training G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV557 Sports G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV557 Sports > GV711 Coaching Q Science > QP Physiology U Military Science > U Military Science (General) |
Divisions: | Academic Areas > Institute of Sport Academic Areas > Institute of Sport > Area > Exercise Physiology Academic Areas > Institute of Sport > Research Theme > Occupational Performance Research Entities > Centre for Health and Allied Sport and Exercise Science Research (CHASER) |
Depositing User: | Stephen Myers |
Date Deposited: | 05 Feb 2025 11:56 |
Last Modified: | 05 Feb 2025 11:56 |
URI: | https://eprints.chi.ac.uk/id/eprint/7952 |