Sleep duration and perceptions of sleep quality in British Army recruits during basic training - an observational analysis.

Introduction: Sleep is critical to the health, wellbeing and performance of military personnel during basic training. This two-part study evaluated sleep-wake patterns and sleep disturbances in junior soldiers (JS) and infantry recruits in Autumn 2021 (study 1), and non-infantry recruits in spring 2022 (study 2).

Methods: During studies 1 and 2, validated wearable technology combined with a sleep diary was used to quantify sleep-wake indices, sleep disturbances and perceptions of sleep quality.

Pre-sleep protein supplementation does not improve performance, body composition, and recovery in British Army recruits (part 1).

Dietary protein is crucial for optimising physical training adaptations such as muscular strength and mass, which are key aims for athletic populations, including British Army recruits. New recruits fail to meet the recommended protein intake during basic training (BT), with negligible amounts consumed in the evening. This study assessed the influence of a daily bolus of protein prior to sleep on performance adaptations, body composition and recovery in British Army recruits.

Nutritional knowledge in British Army recruits during basic training.

Background: Appropriate nutritional intake is essential to optimise both general health and performance in military recruits. General nutritional knowledge is a significant and modifiable determinant of dietary behaviour; however, the level of nutritional knowledge in British Army recruits undertaking basic training is poorly understood.

Methods: The Nutritional Knowledge Questionnaire for Athletes was completed by 29 male (age: 22.

Does Protein Supplementation Support Adaptations to Arduous Concurrent Exercise Training? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis with Military Based Applications.

We evaluated the impact of protein supplementation on adaptations to arduous concurrent training in healthy adults with potential applications to individuals undergoing military training. Peer-reviewed papers published in English meeting the population, intervention, comparison and outcome criteria were included. Database searches were completed in PubMed, Web of science and SPORTDiscus.

The incidence of breast health issues and the efficacy of a sports bra fit and issue service in British Army recruits.

Increasing retention of female recruits throughout Basic Training (BT) is a key priority for the British Army. The aims of this study were two-fold; (i) quantify breast health issues and sports bra usage within female British Army recruits, and (ii) assess the influence of professionally fitted sports bras on breast health and bra fit issues across 13 weeks of BT. A survey was completed by 246 female recruits that identified the incidence of breast health issues during BT.

Altered Dynamic Postural Stability and Joint Position Sense Following British Army Foot-Drill.

Impaired proprioceptive acuity negatively affects both joint position sense and postural control and is a risk factor for lower-extremity musculoskeletal injury in athletes and military personnel. British Army foot-drill is an occupational military activity involving cyclical high impact loading forces greater than those observed in athletes during high level plyometrics. Foot-drill may contribute to the high rates of lower-extremity overuse injuries observed in recruits during basic training.

Dietary Intake and Nitrogen Balance in British Army Infantry Recruits Undergoing Basic Training.

We assessed dietary intake and nitrogen balance during 14 weeks of Basic Training (BT) in British Army Infantry recruits. Nineteen men (mean ± SD: age 19.9 ± 2.

Load carriage magnitude and locomotion strategy alter knee total joint moment during bipedal ambulatory tasks in recruit-aged women.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is prevalent among female soldiers, resulting in limited duty and long term adverse ambulatory effects. A proposed mechanism to the development of knee OA is the assiduous execution of load carriage tasks. Soldiers are often required to maintain a walking gait with load at velocities beyond their gait transition velocity (GTV) known as forced marching.

The Effects of British Army Footwear on Ground Reaction Force and Temporal Parameters of British Army Foot Drill.

Rawcliffe, AJ, Graham, SM, Simpson, RJ, Moir, GL, Martindale, RJ, Psycharakis, SG, and Connaboy, C. The effects of British Army footwear on ground reaction force and temporal parameters of British Army foot drill. J Strength Cond Res 34(3): 754-762, 2020-High rates of occupational training-related lower-limb musculoskeletal (MSK) overuse injuries are reported for British Army recruits during basic training.

Reliability of the Kinetics of British Army Foot Drill in Untrained Personnel.

Rawcliffe, AJ, Simpson, RJ, Graham, SM, Psycharakis, SG, Moir, GL, and Connaboy, C. Reliability of the kinetics of British Army foot drill in untrained personnel. J Strength Cond Res 31(2): 435-444, 2017-The purpose of this study was to quantify the reliability of kinetic variables of British Army foot drill performance within untrained civilians and report the magnitude of vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) and vertical rate of force development (RFD) of foot drills.