Ambulatory physical activity during United States Army basic combat training

Int J Sports Med. 2007 Feb;28(2):106-15. doi: 10.1055/s-2006-924147. Epub 2006 Oct 6.

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.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Locomotion / physiology*
  • Male
  • Military Personnel*
  • Monitoring, Ambulatory / instrumentation*
  • Physical Education and Training*
  • United States