| Keywords |
Lower limb injury ; Soldier’s backpack carriage ; Energy expenditure ; Injury types ; Injury prevalence |
| Abstract |
Physical fitness, energy expenditure, and immune response of Special Forces soldiers following 400 km military march lasted 9-days were measured and these parameters were related to injury types. Ten soldiers were tested before and after the march for physical characteristics, fitness level, and blood inflammation variables. During the march, their step frequency and energy expenditure were measured and injury prevalence was monitored. Fitness and blood variables before and after the march were compared using paired t-test, and cardiovascular capacities were compared using independent t-test. No changes in body weight and composition were noticed after daily 8-hour march. After the march, adiponectin, white blood cell counts, and fibrinogen were significantly increased (p<0.05). Cardiorespiratory endurance (20 m Shuttle run), muscular strength (1 RM squat, 1RM bench press, and Sargent jump), were reduced after the march (p (0.05). No other changes in fitness variables after the march were observed. They walked more than 40,000 steps per day and spent approximately 3,400 kcal. Eight soldiers reported at least one injury incidence due to the march and recovered fully by taking medication after the march. Based on the results, reduced physical fitness in some variables and elevation of immume responses following the march may be occurred transiently mainly due to lower body injuries. Lower body injury prevention and management during the march appears to be of important concern. |