Subjects
A total of 28 healthy male cadets from the college of basic education for commanding officers took part in this study. All participants underwent a complete physical examination and an electrocardiogram to determine their physical and mental condition, and all were diagnosed as healthy. Written informed consent was obtained from all of the participants. This study was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Basel Declaration and recommendations of the Declaration of Helsinki, the ethics committee of the Army Engineering University of PLA. The protocol was approved by the ethics committee of the Army Engineering University of PLA.
Experimental Protocol
This was a before-after controlled trial. An experimental design schedule is presented in Figure 1.
Before data collection and training intervention, all participants underwent a two-week familiarization period. During the familiarization period, subjects learned correct execution and proper form for the prescribed exercise tests, mainly regarding the various appropriate postures, utilization of constant range of motion, and movement speed. Physical and physiological evaluations were performed before and after the 8-week training intervention. All evaluations were conducted over 7 days with at least 12 hours of rest before each evaluation session. Before each test, there was a specific warm-up or cool-down.
Heart Rate and its Variability
The participant’s baseline HR was measured after a period of 10 min seated rest using a real-time HR monitor (Polar TEAM Heart Rate Monitor, Finland). HRV was analyzed at rest (5-10 min) using the Firstbeat SPORTS software program (version 4.4.0.2, Firstbeat Technologies Ltd., Jyväskylä, Finland). HRV variables included time and frequency domains. The time-domain measures were RR interval, the standard deviation of RR intervals (SD) and the square root of the mean squared successive differences of successive RR intervals (RMSSD). The frequency domain measures were low-frequency (LF, 0.04-0.15 Hz) and high-frequency (HF, 0.15-0.40 Hz) spectral components and the ratio between these components (LF/HF).
Maximal Oxygen Uptake
Maximal oxygen uptake (O2max) was assessed with a Max IIa metabolic cart (AEI Technologies, Naperville, IL) using standard open-circuit spirometry techniques, followed by an incremental exercise test on a motor-driven treadmill (h/p/cosmos, quasar, Germany). Calibration procedures were performed before the test according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. The treadmill running test was performed using a modified Bruce protocol[11]. All subjects were encouraged to exercise to exhaustion. The highest 1-minute average of O2 uptake was determined as O2max. Exhaustion was ensured by respiratory exchange ratio >1.05.
30-s Wingate Anaerobic Test
The anaerobic power was measured on a mechanically braked stationary cycle ergometer (Monark Ergomedic 839E, Monark, Sweden) against a pre-determined force load of approximately 7.5% of the subject’s body weight in kilograms.
Muscular Strength and Endurance
Subjects completed a one-repetition maximum (1RM) test for bench press (upper-body muscular strength), deadlift (total-body muscular strength) and squat (lower-body muscular strength). Briefly, the 1RM should be accomplished in a maximum of 4 attempts, in which the load was gradually increased according to individual capacity. Each 1RM test began at a weight near the expected maximum by the subjects. After the participant had approximately 5 minutes of passive rest to feel recovered from the previous attempt, the weight was then increased to be somewhat more difficult (varying according to the exercise performed) [12]. Successive attempts with progressive loads were applied, until the 1RM value was found for each exercise. As the measure of upper-body muscular endurance, the maximal number of push-ups to exhaustion was assessed pre- and post-training.
Jump Capacity
Subjects performed lower-body explosive muscular strength tests (i.e., standing long jump) three times. The longest recorded distance was assessed as jump capacity.
Common Activities and Military Load Carriage Activity
The physical performance battery consisted of three tasks: 600-m all-out running, 5000-m running and 18-km military load carriage. The 600-m all-out effort and 5000-m run were tested on the formal track. The 18-km military load carriage activity was tested in the field.
Integrative Training Period
Experimental groups underwent an 8-week integrative training program. This training program was based on the pervious recommendations for optimizing the adaptations to integrative training, including performing high-intensity endurance training sessions first [10, 13] and at least 24 h of recovery between endurance and strength training.
However, given that physical training for military populations must address performance along an entire continuum to be able to perform a variety of mission tasks, this physical fitness training model mainly involved high levels of aerobic capacity (high-volume running, marching with load), fundamental strength and anaerobic activities. We attempted to properly balance between cardiorespiratory endurance, anaerobic activities, plyometric exercises and muscular strength based on training frequencies. Thus, the periodic, short-duration, high-intensity bursts of activities were interspersed between endurance and strength training (Table 1).
The training programs followed a periodized training plan to prepare the military populations to meet the specific physical needs. The frequency for each training component was 3 times per week. Before each training session, there was a specific warm-up or cool down.
Cardiorespiratory Exercise Training
The training mainly consisted of prolonged endurance training with or without a load. The endurance training lasted 100 min-120 min. The military load carriage activity under 27 kg was performed 1-2 times per week in the field environment.
Muscle Maximal Strength and Endurance Training
The training protocols consisted of mainly five exercises, which activated large or small muscle masses, performed in the following order: bench press, overhead press, half-squat, push-up, and pull-down. All exercises were executed using free weights or universal weight machines.
The training protocols were designed in accordance with a previous study [14]. In brief, the muscle strength protocol consisted of four to six sets of 6 repetitions at 90% of 1RM intensity with a 3-minute rest interval between exercises and sets. The muscle endurance protocol consisted of four to six sets of 16-20 repetitions at 40% of 1RM intensity with a 1-minute rest interval between exercises and sets. All subjects used a complete range of motion and a cadence of a 1- to 2-second positive phase and a 1- to 2-second negative phase. A muscle hypertrophy protocol was avoided. The muscle maximal strength and endurance training alternated in one-week cycles.
Plyometric Training
Plyometric training has been shown to improve muscle power, enhance sport performance, and reduce injury risk in young athletes. This method of training is based on the development of stretch-shortening cycle ability, which consists of a fast action of muscle stretching (eccentric action) followed by a fast shortening phase (concentric action). The training mode most representative of free play (e.g., jumping in multiple directions, skipping) was selected, including single- or double-leg frontward barrier hop, lateral barrier hop, skip and backward skip. The distance was 20 m, and the hurdle barrier height was 15-40 cm. Each exercise was performed in three to four sets with a 3-5-minute rest interval between exercises and sets. In addition, single-leg push-off and jump to box were also performed. Single-leg push-off was performed in three to four sets of 10-15 repetitions with a 3-5-minute rest interval between exercises. The plyometric box height was 15-40 cm. The jump to box was also performed in three to four sets of 2-6 repetitions with a 3-5-minute rest interval between exercises. The plyometric box height was 150-180 cm.
Anaerobic Exercise Training and Stability Training
The 600-m all-out run was selected to develop anaerobic ability. This exercise was performed three to four times with a 5-minute rest interval between exercises. The commonly used stabilization exercises were selected to develop core stability, including the bridge, unilateral bridge, side bridge and plank. Each exercise was performed three-four sets of 1.5-3 min duration with a 3-5-minute rest interval between exercises.
Statistical Analyses
All data presented in this study were calculated by the statistical package SPSS Version 17.0 The data are expressed as the mean ± SD. Differences from before to after the training period were assessed using the paired-samples t-test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.