Research Paper Title

Sex Differences in Training Loads during British Army Basic Training.

Background

To compare training loads between men and women during 14 weeks of British Army standard entry basic training.

Methods

Thirty-one male (mean ± SD: age, 21 ± 4 yr; height, 1.78 ± 0.08 m; mass, 77.1 ± 10.5 kg) and 28 female (age, 22 ± 4 yr; height, 1.65 ± 0.05 m; mass, 63.9 ± 8.9 kg) British Army recruits had external (distance) and internal (HR, training impulse [TRIMP], RPE) training loads measured during weeks 1, 2, 6, 12, and 13 of basic training.

Total energy expenditure was measured during weeks 1 to 2 and weeks 12 to 13.

Results

Daily distance was higher for men than women (13,508 ± 666 vs 11,866 ± 491 m, respectively, P < 0.001).

Average daily HR (29% ± 3% vs 30% ± 3% HR reserve) and RPE (4 ± 1 vs 4 ± 1) were not different between men and women, respectively (P ≥ 0.495).

Daily TRIMP was higher for women than men (492 ± 130 vs 261 ± 145 au, respectively, P < 0.001).

Total energy expenditure was higher for men than women during weeks 1 to 2 (4020 ± 620 vs 2847 ± 323 kcal·d, respectively) and weeks 12 to 13 (4253 ± 556 kcal·d vs 3390 ± 344 kcal·d, respectively) (P < 0.001). Daily RPE, HR, and TRIMP were related to daily distance (R = 0.18-0.57, P ≤ 0.037), and daily RPE was related to daily TRIMP and HR (R = 0.37-0.77, P ≤ 0.001).

Conclusions

Sex differences in training loads could contribute to the greater injury risk for women during basic training. Daily RPE appears a practical option for measuring internal training load during military training.

Reference

O’Leary, T.J., Saunders, S.C., McGuire, S.J., Venables, M.C., Izard, R.M. (2018) Sex Differences in Training Loads during British Army Basic Training. Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise. 50(12), pp.2565-2574. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000001716.