Influence of body composition, load-velocity profiles, and sex-related differences on army combat fitness test performance
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
Volume
37
Issue
12
First Page
2467
Last Page
2476
PubMed ID
38015736
Publisher
National Strength and Conditioning Association / Wolters Kluwer
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences / Centre for Human Performance
RAS ID
64634
Abstract
Boffey, D, DiPrima, JA, Kendall, KL, Hill, EC, Stout, JR, and Fukuda, DH. Influence of body composition, load-velocity profiles, and sex-related differences on army combat fitness test performance. J Strength Cond Res 37(12): 2467-2476, 2023 - The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) became the U.S. Army's mandatory physical fitness test in April of 2022. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between ACFT performance and both body composition and velocity profiles and to determine sex differences for these variables. Data were collected at 2 timepoints 4 months apart, from male (n = 55) and female (n = 17) Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) cadets. Body composition was assessed with a bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy device, and cadets completed a hex bar deadlift load-velocity profile (LVP) and ACFT on separate days. Stepwise multiple regressions were used to explain the amount of variance in ACFT total score and individual event performance. Significance for statistical tests was defined as an alpha level of p ≤ 0.05. Muscle mass and body fat percentage accounted for 49% of shared variance of total ACFT score, and deadlift maximal power and maximal velocity accounted for 67% of shared variance of total ACFT score. The 3 repetition maximum deadlift, standing power throw, hand-release push-up, and sprint-drag-carry events favored cadets with more muscle mass, whereas the leg tuck was influenced by the body fat percentage and the 2-mile run was affected by fat mass. Sex had greater predictive capability for the 2-mile run than body composition. Men outperformed women on all individual events, with the greatest differences on standing power throw and sprint-drag-carry. It is recommended that Army ROTC cadets taking the ACFT maximize lower-body power production and increase muscle mass.
DOI
10.1519/JSC.0000000000004563
Access Rights
subscription content
Comments
Boffey, D., DiPrima, J. A., Kendall, K. L., Hill, E. C., Stout, J. R., & Fukuda, D. H.,(2023). Influence of body composition, load-velocity profiles, and sex-related differences on army combat fitness test performance. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 37(12), 2467-2476. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000004563