Resumen de Effects of 6-Month Military Deployment on Physical Fitness, Body Composition, and Selected Health-Related Biomarkers
Milan Sedliak, Peter Sedliak, Jani P. Vaara
The purpose was to study the effects of 6-month deployment to Afghanistan on physical performance, anthropometrical, and health-related biochemical parameters in soldiers with sedentary to light physical workload shifts. Twenty-five male soldiers (30 +/- 4 years) volunteered and were measured before and after the 6-month deployment. Another 25 home-land-based male soldiers (30 +/- 6 years) served as controls. Total body fat percentage decreased in deployed soldiers (Pre: 23.2 +/- 5.3 vs. Post: 20.8 +/- 5.5%, p < 0.05), whereas no change was observed in control (20.2 +/- 6.9 vs. 20.5 +/- 7.0%). Physical performance improved in deployed soldiers in 4 x 10-m shuttle run (10.86 +/- 0.90 vs. 10.49 +/- 0.63 seconds) and pull-up test to failure (4.7 +/- 3.7 vs. 7.5 +/- 6.7 rep.) (p < 0.05) but not in the controls for the respective tests (10.28 +/- 0.74 vs. 10.40 +/- 0.76 seconds and 10.2 +/- 7.8 vs. 10.2 +/- 7.5 rep.). Deployed soldiers also improved 5-km run with a simulated combat gear time (29.2 +/- 3.1 vs. 27.4 +/- 3.0 minutes), whereas in control the time increased (26.4 +/- 2.9 vs. 27.8 +/- 2.6 minutes, p < 0.05). Load at maximum power output in bench press was improved in deployed soldiers (51.6 +/- 11.3 vs. 56.2 +/- 12.6 kg, p < 0.05). Serum glucose and creatinine decreased (5.46 +/- 0.53 vs. 4.87 +/- 0.74 mmol[middle dot]L-1 and 87.4 +/- 10.7 vs. 80.9 +/- 10.2 [mu]mmol[middle dot]L-1, respectively), and hemoglobin and hematocrite increased (15.13 +/- 0.82 vs. 16.75 +/- 0.85 g[middle dot]dl-1 and 45.3 +/- 1.5 vs. 48.1 +/- 2.4%, respectively, p < 0.05) in the deployment group. In conclusion, after 6-month deployment consisting of sedentary and low physical occupational load, soldiers were able to increase their physical fitness and decrease their body fat content and improve selected health-related biochemical parameters. Therefore, the adoption and promotion of leisure-time physical activity in soldiers during deployments is essential to maintain combat readiness.
