A survey of aerobic fitness levels in a Canadian military population.

Aerobic fitness was assessed for 3171 men aged 17-55 years and for 610 women aged 17-29 years serving in almost every segment of the Canadian Forces (CF). Maximal oxygen uptake (Vo2 max) was predicted from heart rate measured during submaximal exercise. The survey showed that recruit training markedly improved Vo2 max for both men and women but that, after graduates were assigned to their trades and classifications and fitness training was no longer compulsory, fitness returned to pre-training levels. The relationship between daily activity and aerobic fitness was further demonstrated by comparing land, air, and sea elements in the CF. The active life of the young infantry soldiers is reflected in their relatively high Vo2 max. The available evidence indicates that, unless their duties involve compulsory fitness training (recruits) or hard physical work (infantry soldiers), the military in Canada have aerobic fitness levels which are not markedly higher than their civilian counterparts.