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  • Title: The effects of 6 weeks training on the physical fitness of female recruits to the British army.
    Author: Brock JR, Legg SJ.
    Journal: Ergonomics; 1997 Mar; 40(3):400-11. PubMed ID: 9118939.
    Abstract:
    The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of British army recruit training on the physical fitness and strength of female recruits. A total of 73 females (aged 17-23 years) of a single intake of Women's Royal Army Corps (WRAC) recruits were tested at the beginning and end of their 6-week recruit training programme at the WRAC training centre, Guildford. The battery of tests comprised the maximal cycle time for a standard NATO test as an indirect method of determination of maximal oxygen intake (VO2 max) using a cycle ergometer; maximal isometric hand grip strength (Max Grip); maximal isometric 38 cm upright pull strength (Max 38) and maximal incremental dynamic lift to 152 cm (IDL 152). In addition, body-weight and the sum of biceps, triceps, suprailiac and subscapular skinfold thicknesses were measured in order to assess alterations in fat-free mass and percentage of body fat (BF). The recruits responded to training with significant increases in mean VO2 max from 45.7 ml kg-1 min-1 (SD = 5.2) to 46.7 ml kg-1 min-1 (SD = 4.4) or 2.2% (p < .05), mean Max Grip from 263.1 N (SD = 52.2) to 304.9 N (SD = 54.0) or 15.9% (p < 0.001) and mean IDL 152 from 328.0 N (SD = 78.1) to 361.2 N (SD = 74.6) or 10.1% (p < 0.001). There was a significant increase in the mean body-weight of 0.61 kg or 1% (p < 0.05), mean fat-free mass of 1.05 kg or 2.4% (p < 0.001), and a significant reduction in the mean % BF by 3.3% (p < 0.001). It is concluded that female recruit training in the British army is effective in terms of increasing aerobic fitness, physical strength and fat-free mass and in reducing the percentage of body fat.
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