Assessment of physical fitness, physical capacity and

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4/ Military Research & Deployment Center For Food Services, Warsaw, Poland. 5/ Pope John II ... W badaniach udział wzięło 20 żołnierzy – mężczyzn. Średni wiek ... żołnierzy rozpoczynających służbę, natomiast po 6 miesiącach odsetek ten.
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Probl Hig Epidemiol 2014, 95(1): 86-90

Assessment of physical fitness, physical capacity and nutritional status of soldiers serving in the “GROM” Polish Special Forces Unit Ocena sprawności fizycznej, wydolności oraz stanu odżywienia żołnierzy pełniących służbę w polskiej jednostce Wojsk Specjalnych „GROM” Andrzej Tomczak 1,3/, Jerzy Bertrandt 2,5/, Anna Kłos 2/, Bartosz Bertrandt 4/ Department of Physical Education and Sport, General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, Warsaw, Poland Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Warsaw, Poland 3/ The Faculty of Physical Education and Sport in Biała Podlaska, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Poland 4/ Military Research & Deployment Center For Food Services, Warsaw, Poland 5/ Pope John II State School of Higher Education in Biała Podlaska, Poland 1/ 2/

Wprowadzenie. Stan kondycji fizycznej człowieka w znacznym stopniu koreluje ze stanem zdrowia, którego integralną częścią jest stan odżywienia. W wojsku, a szczególnie jednostkach Wojsk Specjalnych, przywiązuje się duże znaczenie do sprawności fizycznej żołnierzy. Uważa się, że żołnierze pełniący służbę w jednostkach Wojsk Specjalnych powinni charakteryzować się ponadprzeciętną sprawnością fizyczną. Cel badań. Określenie stanu sprawności fizycznej, wydolności oraz stanu odżywienia żołnierzy jednostki specjalnej „GROM”. Materiał i metody. W badaniach udział wzięło 20 żołnierzy – mężczyzn. Średni wiek badanych wynosił 30,0±3,4 lat, wysokość ciała 179,5±6,56 cm, a masa ciała 85,8±10,00 kg. Średni staż służby wojskowej to 8,6±4,2 lat. Sprawność fizyczna została oszacowana na podstawie 6 ćwiczeń obejmujących: bieg 10×10 m, podciąganie się na drążku, siady z leżenia w czasie 2 minut, bieg na dystansie 3000 m, wymyki, ugięcia ramion na poręczach. Dokonano również oceny wydolności fizycznej. Stan odżywienia określono na podstawie pomiarów antropometrycznych, tj. masy i wysokości ciała oraz grubości 4 fałdów skórno-tłuszczowych. Badania przeprowadzono dwukrotnie, w drugim dniu szkolenia podstawowego oraz po 6 miesiącach służby. W oparciu o uzyskane wyniki pomiarów antropometrycznych obliczono wskaźnik względnej masy ciała (BMI) oraz zawartość tłuszczu całkowitego w organizmie. Wyniki. Na podstawie analizy wyników badań, w odniesieniu do obowiązujących w wojsku testów sprawności fizycznej, wykazano bardzo wysoki poziom sprawności oraz wydolności fizycznej żołnierzy jednostki specjalnej „GROM”. Wnioski. Przyjmując kryteria BMI, nadwagę stwierdzono u około 80% żołnierzy rozpoczynających służbę, natomiast po 6 miesiącach odsetek ten wynosił 70%. W żadnym badaniu nie wykazano niskiej masy ciała, jak i występowania otyłości. Nadwaga miała charakter nadwagi mięśniowej, gdyż zawartość tłuszczu całkowitego pozostawała w granicach przyjętych norm.

Introduction. Human physical condition significantly correlates with the health state, with nutritional status as its integral part. In the military, and especially in Special Forces units, great importance is attached to physical fitness of soldiers. It is believed that soldiers serving in the Special Forces units are expected to manifest the above-average fitness. Aim. To determine physical fitness, physical capacity and nutritional status of soldiers of the “GROM” Special Forces unit. Material & methods. A total of 20 male soldiers took part in this examination. The average age of subjects was 30.0±3.4 years, body height 179.5±6.56 cm and body mass 85.8±10.00 kg. The average length of military service was 8.6±4.2 years. Physical fitness was assessed on the basis of 6 exercises including: shuttle run 10×10 m, pull-ups, sit-ups within 2 minutes, 3000 m run, flick backs, push-ups on bars. Physical capacity assessment was done as well. Nutritional status was established based on the anthropometrical measurements i.e. measurements of body mass, body height and thickness of 4 skin folds. The research was conducted twice, first in the second day of basic training and after 6 months of service. Based on the obtained results of anthropometric measurements, BMI and the total body fat content were calculated. Results. Based on the results analysis, with respect to the obligatory physical fitness tests, a very high level of physical fitness and physical capacity of individual soldiers of “GROM” was shown. Conclusions. Accepting the BMI criteria, overweight was found among 80% of soldiers beginning the service, but after 6 months this percentage was 70%. Neither low body mass nor obesity was found in any study. Overweight was muscle-origin overweight, because the total fat content remained within the limits of accepted standards. Key words: soldiers of Special Forces Unit, physical fitness, physical capacity, nutritional status

Słowa kluczowe: żołnierze jednostki specjalnej, sprawność fizyczna, wydolność, stan odżywienia © Probl Hig Epidemiol 2014, 95(1): 86-90

Adres do korespondencji / Address for correspondence

www.phie.pl

Andrzej Tomczak tel. 514 664 620, e-mail: [email protected]

Nadesłano: 26.07.2013 Zakwalifikowano do druku: 06.02.2014

Tomczak A, et al. Assessment of physical fitness, physical capacity and nutritional status of soldiers ...

Introduction Physical fitness is a concept closely related with health [1-2]. According to the health-related fitness concept, physical fitness goal is good health state, which determines low risk of health problems [3]. This concept assumes that the level of physical activity and physical efficiency is strongly correlated with good health. According to the health-related fitness concept, the essential components of physical fitness are morphological, muscular, motor, cardio-respiratory and metabolic [4]. They reflect state of human health, functional status of organs and willingness to perform complex physical activities. Having an appropriate level of physical fitness is one of the key determinants for professional military service. Candidates for armed forces (army, police, fire brigade, border guards), pass their first tests of physical fitness during the entrance exams. It is generally believed that fitness requirements for armed forces are very high, and for candidates for police and fire brigade the fitness tests are not differentiated by gender. It was emphasized that the standards of physical fitness were determined by psychophysical requirements necessary to carry out duties in a given position, irrespective of gender [5]. Physical tests carried out in the army are varied [6-8]. For this reason some find it difficult to compare the fitness levels of soldiers from different years of military service, different military specialties or from different countries. However, physical tests usually include the evaluation of racing endurance, abdominal strength, strength of arms and shoulder girdle muscles as well as speed (agility). Currently in the Polish Army, during annual physical fitness tests of male soldiers, the following exercises are obligatory: 3000 m run or swimming for 12 minutes, sit-ups within 2 minutes, pull-ups on high bar or push-ups, shuttle run 10×10 m or zigzagged run. Very often in the forces where a higher level of physical fitness is required, additional tests have been implemented, for example for pilots or Special Forces soldiers. The assessment of physical capacity is obligatorily carried out annually only among the Air Force pilots. The aim of the study was to determine physical fitness level, endurance and nutritional status of the ”GROM” soldiers. Material and methods A total of 20 soldiers underwent the examination. The average age of the subjects was 30.0±3.4 years, body height 179.5±6.56 cm, and body mass 85.8 ±10.00 kg. Physical fitness was assessed in the beginning of training on the basis of 6 exercises including: shuttle

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run 10×10 m, pull-ups, sit-ups within 2 minutes, 3000 m run, back flip, arm bending on parallel bars. The first four exercises the soldiers did according to the description in the Directive of Minister of National Defense on 12 February 2010 on physical fitness tests for professional soldiers (Journal of Laws No 27, item 138 with further amendments) Physical capacity was assessed as well. It was determined based on the march test prepared by Kline at al. [9]. Maximum oxygen intake was calculated using the following formula: VO2max=132.853 - (0.0769 × weight in pounds) - (0.3877 × age in years) + (6.315 × gender (men 1, women 0)) - (3.2649 × time in minutes and seconds converted to hundredths) - (0.1565 × heart contractions frequency in beats per minute). Tests of physical fitness and physical capacity were done in the morning, at least two hours after a meal. Immediately before the fitness test there was a warm-up. The examinations of nutritional status were done twice, first time in the second day of the basic training and after 6 months of service. Nutritional status was determined based on the anthropometric measurements such as body mass and body height. These parameters were the base to calculate BMI – Body Mass Index. The obtained results allowed to classify the examined soldiers in accordance with the Ferro-Luzzi classification into the following groups: proteinenergy malnutrition (BMI≤18.4 kg/m2), normal weight (18.5≥BMI≤24.9 kg/m 2 ), overweight (25.0≥BMI≤29.9 kg/m2) and obese (BMI ≥30.0 kg/m2) [10]. The total fat content was calculated based on the measurements of 4 skin folds thickness: on biceps, triceps, under scapula and over iliac. Based on the obtained results, using the Durnin-Womersley method, the percentage of body fat content was calculated. Lean body mass was calculated from the values of body mass and body fat content [11]. The results were statistically analyzed using the Statistica software [12]. Results and discussion The results of physical fitness examination are included in Tab. I. Physical fitness was assessed according to the criteria adopted for the Special Forces soldiers described in the Directive of Minister of National Defence on 12 February 2012 on physical fitness tests for professional soldiers [7]. All the examined soldiers achieved very good scores for each exercise. All the accepted standards for a very good mark for Special Forces soldiers have been exceeded – sit-ups by 23.5%, pull-ups by 12.4%, 3000 m run by 4.8%, and shuttle run 10×10 m by 0.3%. The examined soldiers achieved a level of VO2max of 57.18±3.4 ml • kg–1min–1 (51.77-64.01) which

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allows for qualifying them as the group of people presenting a very high physical capacity [13]. The BMI analysis revealed that overweight was found among 80% of the soldiers beginning the service in “GROM” Special Forces unit, while after 6 months of service the percentage of soldiers indicating overweight decreased to 70%. Among the examined soldiers neither underweight not obesity were found. The indicated overweight was a muscle-origin overweight, because the total fat content was correct and was within the accepted norms. It was found that a 6-month period of service and military training specific for this unit resulted in a significant reduction in body mass, arm circumference and skin fold thickness over iliac, what resulted in the decrease of both body mass and total body fat content (tab. II). The soldiers from the Special Forces troops are expected to be thoroughly trained and over-average physically fit. The examined soldiers met the requirements of high physical fitness. As compared with other soldiers examined by other authors, they achieved significantly better results when performing the same exercises. In the attempt of racing endurance measured by the time in which subjects ran 3000 m, the examined soldiers achieved better results than Lithuanian soldiers, professional soldiers from the Training Center for Military Medical Service, professional soldiers from the Military Academy of Land Forces, cadets from the Polish Air Force Academy and soldiers graduating from the Officer School in Wroclaw (by 18.57%, 18.29%, 18.43%, 16.82%, 7.19% respectively) [14-17]. In the attempt to assess the strength of upper limbs and shoulder girdle muscles (pull-ups on bar) the soldiers from the Special Forces unit achieved better results than students from civilian universities, professional soldiers from the Military Academy of Land Forces, soldiers from the Training Center for Military Medical Service as well as soldiers graduating from the Officer School in Wroclaw (by 372.85%, 207.85%, 172.36%, 142.51% respectively) [14,16]. For comparison, conscript soldiers from years 1967‑2007 did from 4.4 to 5.9 pull-ups on the average [19]. The smallest differences of comparable results were found in the attempt of shuttle run 10×10 m (assessment of speed and agility). However, the soldiers of the special unit achieved better results than professional soldiers from the Training Center for Military Medical Service, professional soldiers from the Military Academy of Land Forces, graduates from the Officer School in Wroclaw and cadets from the Polish Air Forces Academy (by 6.86%, 6.55%, 3.32%, 2.43% respectively) [14-18].

Probl Hig Epidemiol 2014, 95(1): 86-90 Table I. Results of physical fitness tests Physical fitness test

Results X±SD (min-max)

3000 m run [min.]

11.57±0.50 (10.35-12.45)

Sit-ups [number]

91.50±5.30 (79-100)

Pull-ups [number]

18.27±2.0 (14-24)

Shuttle run 10×10 m [s]

28.8±0.69 (27.3-29.6)

Back flip [number]

10.41±2.70 (3-14)

Bending arms on bars [number]

30.82±4.63 (21-44)

Table II. Anthropometrical assessment of nutritional status of „GROM” soldiers I examination X±SD (min-max)

II examination X±SD (min-max)

30.0±3.4 (24-36)

30.3±3.15 (24-37)

Body height [cm]

179.5±6.6 (170.4-194.7)

180.1±7.11 (171.4-195.7)

Body mass [kg]

85.8±10.0 (70.5-104.5)

84.4±10.05* (69.4-101.3)

Arm circumference [cm]

35.3±3.1 (28-39)

34.4±2.99* (28.5-38.5)

Skin fold thickness on biceps [mm]

2.8±0.5 (1.8-3.6)

2.6±0.36 (2.0-3.2)

Skin fold thickness on triceps [mm]

3.1±0.6 (2.2-4.2)

3.0±0.44 (2.2-4.0)

Skin fold thickness under scapula [mm]

14.2±3.2 (9.0-21.4)

14.6±3.1 (9.0-20.4)

Skin fold thickness over iliac [mm]

17.1±5.5 (9.8-32.4)

15.6±4.4* (7.80-24.6)

BMI [kg/m2]

26.6±2.1 (21.3-29.7)

26.0±2.1 (21.5-29.3)

% of fat content

17.3±2.5 (12.9-22.0)

16.9±2.3* (10.8-20.3)

Lean body mass [kg]

70.9±8.0 (58.3-86.2)

69.4±12.1 (45.2-85.7)

Examined parameter Age [years]

* statistically significant difference at p≥0.05

In another attempt – back flips – the soldiers of a special unit also achieved much better results than cadets from the Polish Air Force Academy (10.41 and 3.88 repetitions respectively) [16]. Also physical capacity of the soldiers from the special unit was much higher than Polish candidates for military pilots [20] and students of the Academy of Physical Education [13]. The above comparison of the results confirms that the soldiers of a special unit present a much higher level of fitness than soldiers serving in other types of military units. It is generally believed that a more physically capable person will carry out a complex task requiring physical fitness better and faster. Such a person is also more resistant to stress, which may be due to greater confidence in their abilities. Another

Tomczak A, et al. Assessment of physical fitness, physical capacity and nutritional status of soldiers ...

underrated aspect related to physical fitness is its connection with health. It has been proven in many studies that people with a higher fitness level manifest better health [21]. The level of physical fitness also depends on physical activity level. The soldiers of a special unit devote much more time to physical activity than soldiers of other specialties [22]. One of the major stressors of the battlefield is a physical burden of soldiers, which is related with high or very high energy expenditure. During sudden intense exercise both appetite and energy intake with food are decreased, in proportion to the energy expenditure increase [23]. From the health point of view and to maintain a high mental and physical condition of soldiers, the balanced nutrition, resulting in proper nutritional status, plays a huge role. The nutritional status disorders can be caused by insufficient or excessive intake of energy, lack of adequate amount of nutrients, improper ratio of nutrients and improper feeding mode. The results of research carried out for many years in Polish soldiers show a permanent occurrence of disturbances in nutritional status, which are usually a result of overfeeding. It is stated that overweight and obesity occurrence are found both among persons beginning military service and professional soldiers. In a group of 156 regular soldiers, the crew of ORP ”Pułaski”, body mass of the examined soldiers increased with the age and amounted to 80.5±10.4 kg among subjects aged up to 30 years and 83.05±10.4 kg among men aged up to 40 years, Among younger sailors overweight was found in 49.0% of the subjects, while in a group of older sailors, up to 40 years old – in 54.3%. Obesity was found in 13.5% of the examined sailors aged up to 30 years and among 10.9% aged up to 40 years [24]. Previous studies on nutritional status of the Navy ships crews carried out in the 1980-ies revealed the occurrence of obesity among sailors, as

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well as an increase of obesity cases correlated with the service duration [25]. In the examinations of 2390 young men beginning military service in different types of troops in the country, overweight was found among 33.2% of the subjects, while obesity was found in 10.0% [26]. The results of examinations of the university and military academies students show an increase in overweight and obesity occurrence along with years of study [27]. The results of a previous study on the influence of the 8-month service in the International Security Assistance Forces ISAF in Afghanistan on the protein-energy nutritional status of Polish soldiers did not show any negative changes in their nutritional status. The changes included only body mass and body composition, because the soldiers returning from the mission were lighter by 1 kilogram, while the fat content decreased and the lean body mass increased. Analyzing the BMI values at the time of the departure and return from the mission, no underweight was found among any men. The service and stay in Afghanistan caused an increase of the number of soldiers indicating normal weight by 16.3%, while the percentage of soldiers indicating overweight decreased by 19.0%. The group of soldiers revealing obesity increased by 2.7% [28]. Conclusions 1. The soldiers of the Special Forces unit present a very high level of both physical fitness and physical capacity. 2. The overweight demonstrated in the research is a muscle-origin overweight, as evidenced by normal body fat content and it is beneficial from a health point of view. 3. High level of physical fitness is a reflection of high physical activity level and proper nutritional status.

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