Dr. Med., Associate professor V.P. Ganapolsky¹
PhD M.K. Rzhepetskaya¹
Assistant T.V. Bevza²
Assistant A.A. Okuneva²
Assistant O.M. Khaikovskaya^2
1 Kirov Military Medical Academy, Saint Petersburg
² Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg

Keywords: cadets, physical fitness, physical development, anthropometrics, functional reserve.

Background. Physical fitness may be defined as the integral parameter of individual fitness for academic vocational training including the military-service-specific safety and operational skills; and this is why physical fitness is ranked among the key vocational selection criteria for entrants to the national military academies [5]. High individual physical fitness and functionality standards are known to facilitate the cadets’ adaptation to active military service [3, 9]. The cadets’ physical fitness is largely determined by the individual anthropometric characteristics and physiological, physical and psychological qualities [1, 4, 6]. The cadets’ physical fitness and physical development profiling studies with correlation analyses may help rate relative progress of the sporting and non-sporting entrants to academies as they are critical for success in their further professional service.

Objective of the study was to analyze physical fitness and physical development rates and progress of the 1-2-year military cadets with and without prior sporting experiences.

Methods and structure of the study. The two-year study was designed to analyze the physical fitness and physical development of the 18-35 year-old 1-2-year cadets (n=203). The physical fitness was tested as recommended by the valid Physical Fitness Manual by the pull-ups, 100m sprint and 3km race tests [8]. And the physical development was rated by the muscle, fat and bone masses testing bioimpedance method; cardiac system functionality rating heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure tests; and respiratory system/ functional reserve reserve rating vital capacity (VC), Stange-Gench Breath-Holding Test and Ruffier tests.

Results and discussion. The sample was split up for comparative analysis into sporting Group 1 (n=57) and non-sporting Group 2 (n= 148) with and without prior sporting experiences and competitive accomplishments, respectively. We analyzed the group functionality and physicality progresses for the two academic years. The study found the sporting group’s progress being significantly (within 10%) better in the speed-rating 100m sprint and endurance-rating 3km race tests. The 1-year Group 1 was tested with the higher neck, shoulder, wrist and inhale/ exhale chest sizes, plus the muscular and bone/ mineral masses; albeit the intergroup differences in the above sizes were actually tested to level down in the second academic year.

The tests rated the group functional reserve fair on average; albeit the sporting Group 1 was tested higher (good) by the functionality tests on the heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, body mass and length test scales – versus the average fair test rates in Group 2. The squatting Ruffier test found the physiological costs and recovery periods being shorter in Group 1. And the Stange-Gench Breath-Holding Test found the Group 1 respiratory system functionality 10% better on average than in Group 2.

The physical fitness / physical development correlations were rated by a factorial analysis of the test data. We estimated the cumulative variance of five dominant factors at 80% of the total. The factorial structure of physical fitness and functionality was dominated by five specific factors (see Table 1). We sorted the factors in the Table by their weights in the total factorial structure.

Table 1.  Physical fitness of the sample: factorial structure

Therefore, the two-year study data and analyses found the cadets reporting prior sporting experiences making higher progress in the speed and endurance rating tests and tested higher on the skeletal muscle mass, basic metabolism and functional reserve tests scales than their non-sporting peers. The sporting cadets are better fit for physical pressures and, hence, better adapt to the service-specific conditions and lifestyle changes since their adaptation mechanisms are pre-formed at the cellular level to facilitate the adaptive responses progressing from the system level to more perfect tissue level so as to avoid notable falls in the working capacity [2]. Trained young males are known better fit for the overnight service and less susceptible to fatigue. Habitual physical trainings help the bodily tissues fast adapt to hypoxic conditions and still maintain high performance despite some shortage of oxygen [7, 10]. Special physical fitness trainings are critical for military cadets as they secure their progress in studies and success in the further military service with high environmental adaptability and professional service standards.

Conclusion. The study found the sporting cadets (having the pre-academic sporting experiences and accomplishments) demonstrating higher progress in the speed, endurance and functional reserve tests. Based on the study data, we ranked the progress factors by priorities as the anthropometrics factor indicative of the vegetative regulation, metabolic factor indicative of the individual functional reserve and strength factor as dominant for the military cadets’ physical training system. The cumulative variance of these factors was estimated at 80% of the total – that many be interpreted as indicative of the high validity of the study approach and test methods.

References

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Corresponding author: ganvp@mail.ru

Abstract

Objective of the study was to analyze physical fitness and physical development rates and progresses of the 1-2-year military cadets with and without prior sporting experiences.

Methods and structure of the study. The two-year study was designed to analyze the physical fitness and physical development in a 1-2-year cadets (n=203). The physical fitness was tested as recommended by the valid Physical Fitness Manual; and the physical development was rated based on the muscle, fat and bone masses, cardio-respiratory system functionality and functional reserve.

Results and conclusion. The sample included 28% of actively sporting individuals qualified Class I-III and Candidate Masters Sport. We analyzed the comparative functionality and physicality progresses of the sporting and non-sporting groups in the sample for the two academic years. The study found the sporting group’s progresses being significantly (within 10%) better on the speed qualities, endurance and functionality scales despite the changes in the lifestyle due to academic studies and shortage of time for sports.