Effects of 12-Month Training Intervention on Physical Fitness, Body Composition, and Health Markers in Finnish Navy Soldiers

Overview

Journal Healthcare (Basel)

Specialty Health Services

Date 2023 Oct 13

PMID 37830735

Authors

Mikko Myllyla

Kai I Parkkola

Tommi Ojanen

Olli J Heinonen

Juha-Petri Ruohola

Tero Vahlberg

Heikki Kyrolainen

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Most Western adults do not meet the recommendations for sufficient activity, and obesity is a global problem. Similar trends are also seen among Western military personnel. Many successful physical training interventions have been carried out in military environments, but the interventions have been quite short term, and the training has been supervised. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a 12-month voluntary motivational training intervention among the Finnish Defence Forces' (FDF) Navy soldiers.

Methods: In total, 77 FDF Navy soldiers, serving in missile patrol boats, took part in the study. The intervention group (IG) contained 45 participants and the control group (CG) contained 32 participants. The IG was divided into four teams that carried out the intervention, while the CG took part in only the measurements.

Results: Most of the participants (65%) in the IG reported that they had increased their exercise volume during the intervention, but no major beneficial impacts on the physical fitness, body composition, or health markers were observed. Nevertheless, there was a clear diversity visible between the subgroups in the IG. The team that reported the most exercise had the best motivation and the most motivated team coach and also had the most improved physical fitness and body composition results.

Conclusions: The present study points out that in military environments, long-term voluntary training interventions may not be as successful as short-term supervised interventions. The results also suggest that in voluntary training interventions among military personnel, the participants' motivation to exercise is a key factor when improving physical fitness.

References

Pihlainen K, Kyrolainen H, Santtila M, Ojanen T, Raitanen J, Hakkinen K . Effects of Combined Strength and Endurance Training on Body Composition, Physical Fitness, and Serum Hormones During a 6-Month Crisis Management Operation. J Strength Cond Res. 2020; 36(9):2361-2370. PMC: 9394488. DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003902. View

Angeltveit A, Paulsen G, Solberg P, Raastad T . Validity, Reliability, and Performance Determinants of a New Job-Specific Anaerobic Work Capacity Test for the Norwegian Navy Special Operations Command. J Strength Cond Res. 2016; 30(2):487-96. DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001041. View

Myllyla M, Kyrolainen H, Ojanen T, Ruohola J, Heinonen O, Simola P . The Effects of Individual Characteristics of the Naval Personnel on Sleepiness and Stress during Two Different Watchkeeping Schedules. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022; 19(20). PMC: 9603121. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013451. View

Knapik J, Sharp M, Steelman R . Secular Trends in the Physical Fitness of United States Army Recruits on Entry to Service, 1975-2013. J Strength Cond Res. 2017; 31(7):2030-2052. DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001928. View

To Q, Chen T, Magnussen C, To K . Workplace physical activity interventions: a systematic review. Am J Health Promot. 2013; 27(6):e113-23. DOI: 10.4278/ajhp.120425-LIT-222. View

Linnan L, Sorensen G, Colditz G, Klar D, Emmons K . Using theory to understand the multiple determinants of low participation in worksite health promotion programs. Health Educ Behav. 2001; 28(5):591-607. DOI: 10.1177/109019810102800506. View

Arvey R, Landon T, Nutting S, Maxwell S . Development of physical ability tests for police officers: a construct validation approach. J Appl Psychol. 1992; 77(6):996-1009. DOI: 10.1037/0021-9010.77.6.996. View

Meadows S, Engel C, Collins R, Beckman R, Cefalu M, Hawes-Dawson J . 2015 Department of Defense Health Related Behaviors Survey (HRBS). Rand Health Q. 2018; 8(2):5. PMC: 6183770. View

Kim K, Park S . Association of muscle mass and fat mass with insulin resistance and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Korean adults: a cross-sectional study. Sci Rep. 2018; 8(1):2703. PMC: 5807388. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-21168-5. View

10.

Ferreira L, Oliveira A, do Carmo N, Bueno G, Lemos T, Matheus J . Reliability and validity of the One Arm Hop Test and Seated Medicine Ball Throw Test in young adults: A cross-sectional study. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2021; 28:26-33. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2021.07.018. View

11.

COOPER K . A means of assessing maximal oxygen intake. Correlation between field and treadmill testing. JAMA. 1968; 203(3):201-4. View

12.

Smith C, Doma K, Heilbronn B, Leicht A . Effect of Exercise Training Programs on Physical Fitness Domains in Military Personnel: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Mil Med. 2022; 187(9-10):1065-1073. DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usac040. View

13.

Andre N, Dishman R . Evidence for the construct validity of self-motivation as a correlate of exercise adherence in French older adults. J Aging Phys Act. 2012; 20(2):231-45. DOI: 10.1123/japa.20.2.231. View

14.

Bosco C, Luhtanen P, Komi P . A simple method for measurement of mechanical power in jumping. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. 1983; 50(2):273-82. DOI: 10.1007/BF00422166. View

15.

Malik S, Blake H, Suggs L . A systematic review of workplace health promotion interventions for increasing physical activity. Br J Health Psychol. 2013; 19(1):149-80. DOI: 10.1111/bjhp.12052. View

16.

Solberg P, Paulsen G, Slaathaug O, Skare M, Wood D, Huls S . Development and Implementation of a New Physical Training Concept in the Norwegian Navy Special Operations Command. J Strength Cond Res. 2015; 29 Suppl 11:S204-10. DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001085. View

17.

Rongen A, Robroek S, van Lenthe F, Burdorf A . Workplace health promotion: a meta-analysis of effectiveness. Am J Prev Med. 2013; 44(4):406-415. DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2012.12.007. View

18.

Bilzon J, Scarpello E, Smith C, Ravenhill N, Rayson M . Characterization of the metabolic demands of simulated shipboard Royal Navy fire-fighting tasks. Ergonomics. 2001; 44(8):766-80. DOI: 10.1080/00140130118253. View

19.

Aaltonen S, Leskinen T, Morris T, Alen M, Kaprio J, Liukkonen J . Motives for and barriers to physical activity in twin pairs discordant for leisure time physical activity for 30 years. Int J Sports Med. 2012; 33(2):157-63. DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1287848. View

20.

Friedl K, Knapik J, Hakkinen K, Baumgartner N, Groeller H, Taylor N . Perspectives on Aerobic and Strength Influences on Military Physical Readiness: Report of an International Military Physiology Roundtable. J Strength Cond Res. 2015; 29 Suppl 11:S10-23. DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001025. View