Effects of Intensified Military Field Training on Jumping Performance

Abstract

A sensitive, reliable, field-expedient test may be valuable for monitoring interventions during periods of anticipated physical performance decline. The purpose of this study was to determine the capabilities of unloaded jumping tests for detecting decrements in physical performance following eight days of military sustained operations. Twenty-nine U. S. Marines (24 +/- 1 y; 180 +/- 6 cm; 82.5 +/- 8.2 kg) performed 1, 5 and 30 repetition(s) of unloaded countermovement jumps (UJ) before and after eight days of sustained operations (SUSOPS). Jump performance data was collected simultaneously using a switch mat (SM) and a linear position transducer (LPT). Jump height (m) and power (W) were highest using 1 UJ and declined 4.9 and 8.9%, respectively after SUSOPS. Jump power (JP) declined progressively over 30 UJ (20%). Five UJ offered no advantages over 1 UJ and was inadequate to examine changes in muscle fatigability (pre: 1294 +/- 138 W; post: 1250 +/- 165 W). The SM and a LPT were in agreement and had a high correlation (r = 0.92). One UJ was a sensitive, easy to implement test for monitoring the collective impact of high physical, nutritional, cognitive, and environmental stress on an individuals' physical performance before and after 8 days of SUSOPS, suggesting decrements in physical performance associated with overreaching can be detected by simply administered field-expedient jumping tests.