Int J Sports Med 2007; 28(2): 106-115
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-924147
Training & Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Ambulatory Physical Activity during United States Army Basic Combat Training

J. J. Knapik1 , S. Darakjy1 , K. G. Hauret1 , S. Canada1 , R. Marin1 , B. H. Jones1
  • 1U. S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, USA
Further Information

Publication History

Accepted after revision: March 27, 2006

Publication Date:
06 October 2006 (online)

Abstract

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.

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Dr. Joseph Knapik

Directorate of Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance
U. S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine

Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010

USA

Phone: + 41 04 36 13 28

Fax: + 41 04 36 54 49

Email: joseph.knapik@apg.amedd.army.mil

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