Publication | Closed Access
Ambulatory Physical Activity during United States Army Basic Combat Training
42
Citations
0
References
2007
Year
Gait AnalysisPhysical ActivityAmbulatory Physical ActivityMovement AnalysisKinesiologyExercisePhysical EducationPhysical ExerciseApplied PhysiologyHealth SciencesPedometer ReadingsLocomotor Physical ActivityRehabilitationExercise ScienceElectronic PedometersExercise PhysiologyPathological GaitHuman MovementAthletic Training
Electronic pedometers were used to quantify locomotor physical activity during an entire 9-week United States Army Basic Combat Training (BCT) cycle. Pedometers were worn on the hips of 4 trainees in each of 10 BCT companies during all BCT activities. Investigators obtained pedometer readings (steps) on a daily basis, and estimated travel distances were obtained by multiplying steps by the average individual step length. A short questionnaire was administered daily to assure trainees wore the pedometers and trained with their companies all day. Trainees performed an average +/- SD of 16 311 +/- 5826 steps/day and traveled an estimated 11.7 +/- 4.4 kilometers/day. The highest daily locomotor activity was during the field training exercise in which trainees took an average +/- SD of 22 372 +/- 12 517 steps/day traveling an estimated 16.2 +/- 9.7 kilometers/day. Differences among the 10 companies ranged from 14 720 +/- 6649 steps/day to 18 729 +/- 6328 steps/day. This survey provided the first examination of locomotor physical activity during an entire BCT cycle.