CARDIOVASCULAR AND NEUROMUSCULAR PERFORMANCE RESPONSES INDUCED BY 8 WEEKS OF BASIC TRAINING FOLLOWED BY 8 WEEKS OF SPECIALIZED MILITARY TRAINING

Santtila, M, Hakkinen, K, Nindl, BC, and Kyrolainen, H. Cardiovascular and neuromuscular performance responses induced by 8 weeks of basic training followed by 8 weeks of specialized military training. J Strength Cond Res 26(3): 745751, 2012-The purpose of this study was to examine the changes in cardiovascular and neuromuscular performances induced by 8 weeks of basic training (BT) period followed by 8 weeks of special training period (STP). Fifty-seven male soldiers (age: 19.2 +/- 0.9 years, height: 1.79 +/- 0.06 m, body mass: 73.8 +/- 12.4 kg) volunteered for tests of peak oxygen uptake ((V)over dotO(2)peak) and maximal bilateral isometric force of the leg and arm extensor muscles. During the first 8 weeks, ((V)over dotO(2)peak) increased by 5.6% (45.0 +/- 8 vs. 48.8 +/- 7 ml.kg(-1).min(-1)), but no further changes were observed during the next 8 weeks (49.1 +/- 8 ml.kg(-1).min(-1)). Maximal isometric force of the arm and leg extensors increased during the first 8 weeks (arm: 680 +/- 182 vs. 774 +/- 182 N; leg: 2,584 +/- 724 vs. 2,730 +/- 823 N) by 3.8% (p < 0.001) and 8.1% (p < 0.001), respectively, with no further increases by week 16 (arm: 718 +/- 170 N; leg: 2,679 +/- 967 N). Body fat percentage (pre: 10.4 +/- 4, post-BT: 9.0 +/- 4, post-STP: 9.3 +/- 3%), and waist circumference decreased (83.4 +/- 10, 80.9 +/- 8, 80.8 +/- 7 cm) during BT, whereas no changes were noticed thereafter. In conclusion, it was found that physical fitness of conscripts improved significantly during the Finnish military 8-week BT at the beginning of their military service. A plateau in the improvement of physical performance during STP is largely attributed to a lack of continued progression or periodization in their training program. For optimal improvements in physical performance during STP, it might be reasonable to include a structured physical training with greater intensity and training volume with optimal periodization than during BT.