Effects of a Specifically Designed Physical Conditioning Program on the Load Carriage and Lifting Performance of Female Soldiers

Forty-six women were studied to determine whether their ability to perform "very heavy" Army jobs could be improved by a specially designed 24-week physical training program administered within normal Army time constraints; 32 subjects remained for the entire testing and training program. The training program proved effective. The weight of boxes the women could lift to three different heights improved between 30% and 47%. After training, the average box-weight the women could lift onto a truck was 118 pounds, 81% of the Army male value. The number of 40-pound boxes the women could lift onto a truck in 10 minutes increased from 106 to 140. The number of 40-pound boxes that could be lifted off the ground, carried 25 feet and placed onto a truck increased from 53 to 62. Vertical jump and standing long jump distance increased 20% and 15% respectively. The speed at which a 75 pound backpack could be carried over a 2-mile mixed-terrain course increased from 3.4 to 4.4 miles per hour. Before the training, only 24% of the women could qualify for "very heavy" Army jobs; after the training, 78% could qualify. Body composition improved as well.