(Research Hub Theater) The Relationship Between Fitness and Injury Among Army ROTC Cadets

Objective: Existing research demonstrates an association between physical fitness and injury incidence using the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) to measure fitness. However, the Army has recently transitioned to the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT), which is designed to replicate the physical demands of soldiers. The APFT lacked measures of strength and power, and thus did not evaluate aspects of functional fitness. Additionally, there are inconsistencies when comparing performance data between the APFT and ACFT, therefore it cannot be concluded that the fitness and injury relationships established by the APFT translate to the ACFT. The purpose of this study was to evaluate ACFT performance differences based on injury incidence in Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadets. A secondary purpose was to document injury locations and their impact on athletic performance.

Design: Survey-based correlational study.

Setting: Mid-tier research university.

Participants: Army ROTC cadets (n=30).

Interventions: A modified version of the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center Overuse Injury Questionnaire was administered monthly throughout the study period (5 months). ACFT scores for participating cadets were also collected.

Main Outcome Measures: ACFT performance, Injuries, Pain levels and limitations

Results: The majority of reported injuries involved the lower extremity and spine, with few involving the upper extremities. Independent t-tests were conducted using presence of pain as the independent variable and performance on the ACFT as the dependent variable. No statistically significant differences were found in performance between those with pain and those without pain (p>.05 for all components of the ACFT).

Conclusions: While the results of this study did not reveal significant differences in injury risk based on presence of pain, it is important to note the relatively short duration of surveillance. There is a need for additional research over a longer study window as identifying injury risk factors early in the military career may be useful for mitigating injury risk later.