MILITARY MEDICINE, 162, 7:484, 1997
The Relationship between Aerobic Fitness and Recovery from
High-Intensity Exercise in Infantry Soldiers
Jay R. Holfman, PhD
The relationship between aerobic fitness and recovery from
high-intensity exercise was examined in 197 infantry soldiers.
Aerobic fitness was determined by a maximal-effort, 2,OOO-m
run (RUN). High-intensity exercise consisted of three bouts of
a continuous 140-m sprint with several changes of direction. A
2-minute passive rest separated each sprint. A fatigue index
was developed by dividing the mean time of the three sprints
by the fastest time. Times for the RUN were converted into
standardized T scores and separated into five groups (group 1
had the slowest run time and group 5 had the fastest run time).
Significant differences in the fatigue index were seen between
group 1 (4.9 ± 2.4%) and groups 3 (2.6 ± 1.7%),4 (2.3 ± 1.6%),
and 5 (2.3 ± 1.3%). It appears that recovery from high-intensity
exercise is improved at higher levels of aerobic fitness (faster
time for the RUN). However, as the level of aerobic fitness
improves above the population mean, no further benefit in the
recovery rate from high-intensity exercise is apparent.
Introduction
T
he fitness level ofsoldiers is regarded as an importantfactor
in the successful performance of infantry operations.
However, the relative importance of specific components of
physical fitness (t.e., aerobic capacity, anaerobic capacity, and
muscular strength) to infantry performance is unclear. High
levels ofaerobic capacity(V02 maxlevels> 50 mlkg- 1 1-1) have
been reported in early studies of infantry personnel.v" How-
ever, these studies did not report whether high levels ofaerobic
capacity contributed to successful field operations. A subse-
quent study' later reported that high levels of aerobic capacity
werenot significantly relatedto field operations, but that upper-
bodystrength and anaerobic capacitymaybe moreimportantto
successfulinfantry performance.
The importance of anaerobic capacity, and not aerobic fit-
ness, to successful infantry performance may be understand-
able considering the specific requirements ofmilitary personnel
in the field. Missions do not appear to be performed at a level of
intensityto stress the cardiovascular system."However, during
situations of combat, infantry personnel are more likely to be
involved in many short-duration sprint activities. In addition,
the packs carried by the soldiers also impose a stress on both
upper- and lower-body exercise capacities." The importance of
aerobic fitness, however, should not be neglected. The role of
aerobic fitness in an activity that maybe predominantly anaer-
obic may be associated to a greater extent with enhancing re-
covery rates during repeatedbouts ofexercise. 8 The association
of aerobic capacityand recovery is thought to be related to the
Israel Defence Forces, Center for Combat Fitness, Department ofResearch, Military
Post 01443, Israel.
This paper waspresented at the Israel Defence Forces-U.S. Army Conference on
Military Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel, November 1996.
This manuscript wasreceived for review in August 1996. The revised manuscript
wasaccepted for publication in January 1997.
Reprint & Copyright ©byAssociation ofMilitary Surgeons ofU.S., 1997.
Military Medicine, Vol. 162, July 1997
Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/milmed/article-abstract/162/7/484/4831540
by Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris user
on 28 July 2018
increasedlactate clearance rate resulting from aerobic training
adaptations such as increased mitochondrial activity," in-
creased capillary density.'?'!' and a possible reduction in lac-
tate formation. 11,12
The fitness levels of most military personnel are Benerally
evaluated through field-based endurance run tests. Faster
times for running a given distance are rewarded with higher
scores. This may result in too much emphasis being placed on
improving aerobic endurance, and not enoughon exercising the
specific needs of the soldier (t.e., anaerobic). Clearly, more un-
derstandingis neededregarding exactly howmuch ofan aerobic
fitness base needs to be developed, and at what point a greater
emphasis in training should be directed at anaerobic exercise.
Thus, the purpose ofthis study was to examine the relationship
between aerobic fitness (as determined by a military field test)
on recovery rates from anaerobic exercise (repeated sprint per-
formance) in infantry soldiers.
Methods
1-3
Onehundred ninety-seven Infantrysoldiers (19.4 ± 0.8 years
old) werebriefed regarding the purpose and risks of this study
and gave their informed voluntaryconsent to participate. All of
these soldiers had completed their basic training and were ei-
ther in an advanced infantrycourse or serving in a field unit. All
testing was performed while soldiers were stationed briefly at
the combat-fitness center. Generally, these assignments were
designed to improve the soldiers' level ofphysical fitness and/or
increase their knowledge base concerning both conditioning
and proper nutrition.
All soldiers performed both an aerobic fitness test and a re-
peated sprint test to assess anaerobic power and fitness. All
tests wereseparated by at least 24 hours. However, only 163 of
the soldiers were able to perform both tests. All testing was
conducted by the combat-fitness center staff. The soldiers' com-
manderswere excluded from testingand werenot present at the
test site.
Aerobic fitnesswas determined by a maximal-effort, 2,000-m
run. Thisfitnesstest is part ofthe standard IsraelDefence Force
fitnesstest. All2,000-m runs wereperformed on a dry, dirt road
used primarily as a running trail. All soldiers were required to
wearT-shirt,shorts, socks,and running shoes.All soldiers were
experienced in performing this test (at least two or three prior
tests) and were clearly aware of the importance of their perfor-
mance time. Thiswas further emphasized in the briefmg before
the run by the combat-fitness center staff administering the
test.
Duringthe high-intensity exercise period, soldiers performed
repeatedbouts of a slight modification ofthe line drill. 14,15 The
linedrillis considered to be a highly intensebout ofexercise that
tests the anaerobic capacityof the individual. 15 It consists of a
continuous 140-msprint with several changes ofdirection (see
484
 Aerobic Fitness and Recovery from High-Intensity Exercise
Fig. 1). Specifically, the soldier began from a standing position
(point A) and ran at maximum speed to four separate cones
placed one in back of the other at distances of 7 (point B), 14
(point e), 21 (point D), and 28 (point E) m from pointA. As the
soldier arrived at each cone, he sprinted back to point A and
then proceeded as quickly as possible to the next cone. Theline
drill was performed three times (SPI, SP2, and SP3), with a
2-minute passive recovery between each sprint. Afatigue index
was developed by dividing the meantimeofthe three sprints by
the fastest recorded time ofthe three sprints.
Heartrates were measured using a heart-rate monitor (Sport
Tester, Polar Electro, Kempele, Finland) immediately after each
sprint and during eachminuteofthe recovery period. Arecovery
heart rate wasrecorded foreach sprint bysubtractingthe heart
rate at 2 minutes of recovery from the maximal heart rate re-
corded immediately after each sprint.
Statistical Analysis
Pearson product-moment correlations were used to examine
selected bivariate correlations. The soldiers' endurance run
timeswere converted to a standardized score (Z score). To pre-
ventthe standard score from being reported as a negative num-
ber, all Z scoreswere subsequently converted to Tscores. This
transformation creates a distribution with a mean of 50 and a
standard deviation of 10. Soldiers were then assigned to five
separategroups according to their endurancerun timeTscore.
« ....
...
7m I~
I
14m
I
211TI
I
.....
....
Fig. 1. Modified 140-m line drill.
Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/milmed/article-abstract/162/7/484/4831540
by Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris user
on 28 July 2018
485
Group 1 consisted of soldiers whose Tscoreswere between 20
and 29, a scorethat was between 2 and 3 standard deviations
below the mean. Group 2 consisted of soldiers whose T scores
were between 30 and 39, a score that was between 1 and 2
standard deviations below the mean. Group 3 comprised sol-
dierswhose Tscores were between 40 and 49, a scorethat was
within 1standard deviation below the mean. Group 4 comprised
soldiers whose T scoreswere between 50 and 59, a score that
was within 1 standard deviation above the mean. Group 5 con-
sisted of soldiers whose T scores were between 60 and 69, a
scorethat was between 1 and 2 standard deviations above the
mean. Differences between these groups were analyzed by a
one-way analysis ofvariance. In the eventofa significant Fratio,
adjusted unpaired t tests, corrected by the Bonferroni method,
were used.Asignificance level ofp ~ 0.05was selected. All data
are reported as means ± SO.
Results
The sprint times, maximal heart rates, and recovery heart
rates for the three sprints are shown in Table I. Thesprint time
forSPI was significantly fasterthan the timesmeasured at SP2
and SP3. In addition, the time for SP2 was significantly faster
than that for SP3. No differences were seen in maximal heart
rate aftereach sprint.Theheart rate recovery following SP2was
significantly lower than that seen following both SPI and SP3.
Pearson product-moment correlations between the 2,000-m
lu
1°
28m I~
Military Medicine, Vol. 162, July 1997
 486 Aerobic Fitness and Recovery from High-Intensity Exercise

TABLE I aerobic fitness and exercise recovery. 8. 16 However, in contrastto

SPRINT TIMES, MAXIMAL HEARf RATES, AND HEARf-RATE other studies, this investigation suggests that the relationship
RECOVERIES FOR THE LINE DRILL between aerobic fitness and recovery from high-intensity exer-
cisemaybe limited afterachievement ofa basic level ofaerobic
SP1 SP2 SP3
fitness.
Sprint time 30.79 a ± 1.43 31.53 b ± 1.39 32.30 ± 1.37 In this study, the fastest peak and mean sprint times were
(seconds)
seenin soldiers withthe fastest timefor the 2,000-m run. These
Maximal heart rate 183.2 ± 15.0 183.4 ± 9.8 183.4 ± 10.1
(beats/minute) results are similar to recentobservations byPaavolainen et al.!"
Heart rate recovery 47.3 ± 18.3 41.0 c ± 14.8 47.5 ± 11.9 Those investigators suggested that lower lactate concentrations
(beats/minute) seen in endurance athletes enabled them to reach anaerobic
All data are reported as mean ± SD. capacity outputs similar to those ofsprint athletes. Thereduced
a Significantly faster than SP2 and SP3. lactate concentrations seen in the endurance-trained athletes
b Significantly faster than SP3. are thought to be the result ofa greaterclearance rate.""! or a
c Significantly different than SP1 and SP3. reduction in lactate accumulatton.I':" Consequently, endur-
ance-trained individuals may have a slight advantage during
run times, heart rate recovery, fatigue index, and peak sprint exercises that stress the anaerobic capacity component byusing
time are shown in Table II. Aerobic fitness had little if any aerobic factors to improve anaerobic sprintin~ economy and
correlation (rvaluesbetween 0.00 and 0.25) to heart rate recov- improve the recovery response between sprints. 6
ery values after bouts of high-intensity exercise. In addition, Thesignificant difference seen in the recovery heart rate after
aerobic fitness had a low correlation (r = 0.33) to the fatigue SP2 compared with SP1 and SP3 cannot be explained and is
indexofthe line drill. most likely spurious. The inability to fmd any relationship be-
The mean, standard deviation, and range of times for the tween heart-raterecovery and aerobic fitness maybe surprising
2,000-m run, and the mean ± SD ofthe peak sprint for the five considering the strongrelationship previousl~ reported between
groupsare shownin Table III. Since the groupswere developed aerobic capacity and heart-rate recovery. 17.1 However, this re-
according to T scores for the 2,000-m run, the mean time for lationship has beenreported aftersubmaximal bouts ofexercise
each groupis significantly different from the mean timefor the and not afterhigh-intensity exercise. Thedifferences in exercise
others.Asignificant difference in peaksprint timewas observed intensity may affect the mechanisms that control cardiodecel-
only between groups 3 and 5. eration (the relationship between sympathetic and parasympa-
Thefatigue indexis shown in Figure 2. Significant differences thetic activity).
were seen between group 1 (4.9 ± 2.40/0) and groups 3 (2.6 ± Physical fitness has beenwell accepted as an importantcom-
1.7%),4 (2.3 ± 1.6%), and 5 (2.3 ± 1.3%). No other significant ponent of infantry operations. 2 •3 •5 •6 However, most of the pub-
differences between groupswere seen. lished literature concerning fitness and the military have pri-
marily examined aerobic fitness. Recent evidence, however, has
Discussion indicated that aerobic fitness may not be as importanta factor
in successful infantry operations as previously thought.2
The major finding of this study was that aerobic fitness ap- Knapik et al.2 have suggested that upper-body strength and
pears to havean importantrole in the recovery processes during anaerobic capacity are the primary factors in infantry opera-
repeated bouts of anaerobic exercise. However, the benefits of tions.Nevertheless, aerobic trainingstillhas an importantfunc-
high levels of aerobic fitness in enhancing recovery between tion in the physical development of the infantry soldier. This
bouts of high-intensity exercise do appear to be limited. A re- function may not be directly related to successful field opera-
duction in the rate of fatigue was observed as aerobic fitness tions but maybe more importantin reducing fatigue rates and
improved (reduced time for the 2,000-m run) to values ap- enhancing recovery during these operations.
proaching the population mean. However, as aerobic fitness In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that aerobic
improved to valuesabove the population mean, no further ben- fitness is involved in the recovery processes from repeated bouts
efits in the fatigue rate were seen. ofhigh-intensity exercise. However, this relationship appearsto
These results are in agreement with those ofother investiga- be limited after reaching fitness levels above the specific popu-
tions that have reported on the positive relationship between lationmean. Therefore, it maybe appropriate to maintaina high

TABLE IT
PEARSON PRODUCT-MOMENT CORRELATIONS

A B C D E F
A. Aerobic fitness
B. SP1DHR -0.16
C. SP2DHR -0.25 0.63*
D. SP3DHR 0.00 0.51 * 0.62*
E. Peak sprint time 0.28 -0.19 -0.36* -0.15
F. Fatigue index 0.33* 0.13 0.31 * 0.22 -0.42*
SP1DHR = heart rate recovery followingSP1; SP2DHR = heart rate recovery followingSP2; SP3DHR = heart rate recovery followingSP3.

Military Medicine, Vol. 162, July 1997

Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/milmed/article-abstract/162/7/484/4831540
by Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris user
on 28 July 2018
 Aerobic Fitness and Recovery from High-Intensity Exercise 487

TABLEm
MEAN. STANDARD DEVIATION. AND RANGE OF TIMES FOR THE 2,000-METER RUN (SECONDS)AND PEAK SPRINT TIMES

2000-Meter Run Peak Splint Time

Group Mean SD Range Mean SD
1 578 11 599-557 31.5 1.8
2 527 9 556-520 31.0 1.4
3 498 11 519-483 31.3 1.3
4 467 8 482-446 30 .8 1.3
5 429 11 445-409 30 .0 1.2a
Each group is significantly different from the other.
a Significantly different from group 3.

8 FATIGUE INDEX
..
7

4_

o
1 z 3 4 5
GROUPS
Fig. 2. Fatigue Index reported as percentage differences . Asterisk (*) Indicates significantly greater than groups 3. 4. and 5. All data are reported as mean :!: SD.

level ofaerobic training during early phasesofthe fitness devel-
opment ofthe soldier. Inlaterphases. it may bemore effective to
maintain only a supplemental aerobic training program while
concentrating on developing other components offitness (e.g.,
strength and anaerobic capacity).
References
I. Dubik JM. Fullerton TM: Soldier overloading in Grenada . Milit Rev 1987; 67:
38-47.
2. Knapik J. Dantels W. Murphy M. Fitzgerald P. Drews F. VogelJ : Physiological
factors in infantIy operations. Eur J Appl Physiol 1990; 60: 233-8.
3. McCraig RH. Gooderson CY: Ergonomic and physiological aspects of military
operations in a cold wet climate. Ergonomics 1986; 29: 849-57.
4. Cooper KH. Zechner A: Physical fitness In United States and Austrian military
personnel. JAmMed Assoc 1971; 215: 931-4.
5. Jette M. Klmmlck A. Sidney K: Evaluation of an indoor standardized obstacle
course for Canad ian infantIy personnel. Can J Sport Sci 1990: 15: 59-61.
6. Myles WS. AlIen CL: A survey of aerobic fitness levels in a Canadian military
population . Avlat Space Environ Med 1979: 50: 813-5 .
7. VogelJA. Patton JF. Mello RP. Daniels W: An analysis of aerobic capacity in a
large United States population . J Appl Physiol 1986; 60: 494-500.
8. Plisk 88 : Anaerobic metabolic conditioning: a brief review of theory. strategy and
practical application . J Appl Sport Sci Res 1991; 5: 22-34 .
9. Gollnick PD, Armstrong RB. Saltln B. Saubert CS. Sembrowlch WL. Shephard

Military Medicine. Vol. 162. July 1997

Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/milmed/article-abstract/162/7/484/4831540
by Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris user
on 28 July 2018
 488 Aerobic Fitness and Recovery from High-Intensity Exercise

RE: Effect of training on enzyme activity and fiber composition of human skeletal
muscle. J Appl Physiol1973; 34: 107-11.
10. Sjogaard G: Changes in skeletal muscles, capillary, and enzyme activity with
training and detraining. In Medicine and Sport Science 17: Physiological Chem-
istry of Training and Detraining, pp 202-14. Edited by Marconnet P, Poortsman
J, Hermansen L. Kargen, Basel, 1984.
11. Tesch PA, Sharp DS, Daniels WL:Influence of fiber type composition and capillary
density on onset of blood lactate accumulation. Int J Sports Moo 1985; 2: 252-5.
12. Sjodin B: Lactate dehydrogenase in human skeletal muscle. Acta Physiol Scand
(Suppl) 1976; 436: 1-32.
13. Vogel JA: Evaluation of physical performance. In Food Components to Enhance
Performance, pp 113-26. Edited by VogelJA. Washington, DC, National Academy
Press, 1986.
14. Burke EJ: Physiological considerations and suggestions for the training of elite
basketball players. In Toward an Understanding of Human Performance, pp
293-311. Edited by Burke EJ. Ithaca, NY,Movement Publications, 1980.
15. Seminick D: Testing protocols and procedures. In Essentials of Strength Training
and Conditioning, pp 258-73. Edited by Baechle T. Champaign, IL, Human
Kinetics, 1994.
16. Paavolainen L, Hakkinen K, Nummela A, Rusko H: Neuromuscular characteris-
tics and fatigue in endurance and sprint athletes during a new anaerobic power
test. Eur J Appl Physiol1994; 69: 119-26.
17. Francis K, Brasher J: A height-adjusted step test for predicting maximal oxygen
consumption in males. J Sports Med Physical Fitness 1992; 32: 282-7.
18. Shapiro A, Shoenfeld Y, Shapiro Y: Recovery heart rate after sub-maximal work.
J Sports Med 1976; 16: 57-9.

Members Use
Airborne Express for two
good reasons:
(Dollars &Cents. J
~~H'6~
~. ~ We're pleased tooffer members Overnight delivery tovirtually every U.S. zipcode.
another valuable benefit: fast, reliable
-:;.tI~;-.,~,-".,--.. Free pickup from most locations during thebusiness
~ · ..,'" overnight air express service at a day. Customer service around theclock. And service
~P " significantly reduced rate. By special to over 200 countries worldwide. Call foryourfree
arrangement with Airborne Express, you can starterkitand save onevery package you ship.
shipovernight letters andpackages across town or
around theglobe at savings ofupto 400/0. ~liRBORI~E
call 1-80o-MEMBERS fXPRESS.
We selected Airborne Express toprovide thisgreat
service toourmembers for a number ofreasons. to start saving today.
ASSOCIATION CODE: A11SUS N2 i'cY665

Military Medicine, Vol. 162, July 1997

Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/milmed/article-abstract/162/7/484/4831540
by Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris user
on 28 July 2018