School of Health and Applied Human Science, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC 28403, USA.
Office of the Commandant, Physical Readiness Program, The Citadel Military College of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29409, USA.
Mil Med. 2023 Jul 22;188(7-8):e2035-e2040. doi: 10.1093/milmed/usac364.
The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) is the fitness assessment used by the Army launched in April of 2022. The ACFT consists of six physically demanding motor movements that parallel to the stressors experienced by the modern-day combat soldier. The aim of this study is to determine the efficacy of a 12-week virtual exercise program on the individual and their overall ACFT scores.
Thirteen soldiers from the Army National Guard (age = 29.8 ± 6.2 years; height = 175.7 ± 6.1 cm; service experience ≥ 18 months to 18 years) volunteered to complete three sessions. In session 1, baseline height, body mass, body composition, and ACFT scores were collected. Session 2 consisted of a suspension trainer (ST) tutorial in which all participants familiarized themselves with the set-up and utilization of the suspension training tool kit. Upon completion of session 2, a TRX Elite ACFT Kit containing one suspension trainer, four resistance bands, and the 12-week virtual exercise training program available via iphone operating system and Android were given to all participants. In session 3, post-assessments of body mass, body composition, and ACFT scores were collected. Data were statistically analyzed using a paired-sample t-test with a Bonferroni correction (P < .00065) to adjust for multiple comparisons.
There were no significant changes in mean body mass (83.8 ± 16.5 kg vs. 83.9 ± 16.6 kg; P = .752); however, there was a significant reduction in mean percentage body fat (19.5 ± 6.4% vs. 18.3 ± 6.5%; P < .0001). Mean scores from four of the six individual ACFT assessments, specifically, deadlift, standing power throw, hand-release push-ups, and sprint-drag-carry, displayed improvements, but did not attain statistical significance. The overall mean ACFT scores displayed significant improvements (319.4 ± 39.9 vs. 390.4 ± 68.5; P < .0001).
The TRX Elite ACFT Kit which includes one suspension trainer, four varying resistance bands, and on-demand access to a stepwise 12-week virtual exercise program was deemed effective by increasing the overall mean ACFT scores among participants. From a practitioner's perspective, the TRX Elite ACFT Kit should be widely distributed to all Army units and recruiting commands to provide vital assistance for recruits and soldiers to train and prepare for the ACFT. Moreover, given the ease and portability of the TRX Elite ACFT Kit, recruits and soldiers will be able to effectively train anytime, anywhere.
陆军体能挑战赛（ACFT）是 2022 年 4 月推出的陆军体能评估。ACFT 由六项体能要求极高的运动组成，与现代战斗士兵所经历的压力因素相匹配。本研究的目的是确定为期 12 周的虚拟锻炼计划对个人及其整体 ACFT 分数的效果。
13 名来自陆军国民警卫队的士兵（年龄=29.8±6.2 岁；身高=175.7±6.1 厘米；服务经验≥18 个月至 18 年）自愿完成三个阶段。在第 1 阶段，收集基线身高、体重、身体成分和 ACFT 分数。第 2 阶段包括悬挂训练器（ST）教程，所有参与者都熟悉了悬挂训练工具包的设置和使用。完成第 2 阶段后，为所有参与者提供了包含一个悬挂训练器、四个阻力带和 12 周虚拟锻炼训练计划的 TRX Elite ACFT 套件，可通过 iphone 操作系统和 Android 使用。在第 3 阶段，收集体重、身体成分和 ACFT 分数的后测评估。使用配对样本 t 检验对数据进行统计分析，并使用 Bonferroni 校正（P<.00065）进行多次比较调整。
体重平均值（83.8±16.5 千克与 83.9±16.6 千克；P=.752）没有显著变化，但平均体脂百分比（19.5±6.4%与 18.3±6.5%；P<.0001）显著降低。六项个人 ACFT 评估中的四项评估，即硬拉、站立力量投掷、手放俯卧撑和冲刺拖曳携带，显示出改善，但未达到统计学意义。整体平均 ACFT 分数显示出显著提高（319.4±39.9 与 390.4±68.5；P<.0001）。
TRX Elite ACFT 套件包括一个悬挂训练器、四个不同阻力带和按需访问逐步 12 周虚拟锻炼计划，通过提高参与者的整体平均 ACFT 分数，被认为是有效的。从从业者的角度来看，TRX Elite ACFT 套件应广泛分发给所有陆军部队和招募司令部，为新兵和士兵提供重要帮助，以训练和准备 ACFT。此外，鉴于 TRX Elite ACFT 套件的易用性和便携性，新兵和士兵将能够随时随地有效地进行训练。
