Army Combat Fitness Test Scores Moderate Cognitive Function Improvements After a Ruck March: A Hierarchical Linear Model Approach.


Journal

Journal of strength and conditioning research
ISSN: 1533-4287
Titre abrégé: J Strength Cond Res
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 9415084

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
25 Apr 2024
Historique:
medline: 25 4 2024
pubmed: 25 4 2024
entrez: 25 4 2024
Statut: aheadofprint

Résumé

Sax van der Weyden, M, Merrigan, JJ, Newman, K, Hahn, J, and Martin, J. Army Combat Fitness Test scores moderate cognitive function improvements after a ruck march: A hierarchical linear model approach. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2024-Heavy load carriage is a common task for military personnel and can lead to undue physical and mental fatigue. The purpose of this study was to assess effects of load carriage on cognitive function (CF) and the role individual characteristics play in CF responses. Anthropometrics/body composition, demographics, and Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) scores were gathered from 47 Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadets. Cadets' CF was assessed through the concentration task grid (CTG) before (preruck), immediately after (postruck), and 3 weeks after (follow-up) a 16.09- to 19.31-km ruck march. Hierarchical linear modeling was used, with α < 0.05. The final model revealed growth, or improvement, in CF from preruck to postruck with growth decelerating, but still improved, at follow-up. The load carriage bout improved CF in most cadets, with average growth from 5.67- to 7.20-grid squares found. However, postruck CF did not return to the same level as a controlled follow-up (9.69). Sex (2.46, female), familiarity with the CTG (1.99), ACFT total scores (0.009), and relative ruck mass (-0.09) were all significant predictors of postruck CF. Army Combat Fitness Test scores (0.008) were also significant predictors of the slope between preruck and postruck, such that an ACFT score 59 points above average would result in a 1-grid square greater improvement in CF postruck. The significance of ACFT scores, lower relative ruck mass, and familiarization highlights the importance physical and mental preparation for desirable CF outcomes after occupational tasks.

Identifiants

pubmed: 38662931
doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004788
pii: 00124278-990000000-00442
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Sous-ensembles de citation

IM

Informations de copyright

Copyright © 2024 National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Références

Armstrong N, Smith S, Risius D, et al. Cognitive performance of military men and women during prolonged load carriage. BMJ Mil Health 169: 37–45, 2023.
Balart P, Oosterveen M. Females show more sustained performance during test-taking than males. Nat Commun 10: 3798, 2019.
Barha CK, Davis JC, Falck RS, Nagamatsu LS, Liu-Ambrose T. Sex differences in exercise efficacy to improve cognition: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials in older humans. Front Neuroendocrinol 46: 71–85, 2017.
Bhattacharyya D, Pal M, Chatterjee T, Majumdar D. Effect of load carriage and natural terrain conditions on cognitive performance in desert environments. Physiol Behav 179: 253–261, 2017.
Blatter K, Cajochen C. Circadian rhythms in cognitive performance: Methodological constraints, protocols, theoretical underpinnings. Physiol Behav 90: 196–208, 2007.
Brisswalter J, Collardeau M, René A. Effects of acute physical exercise characteristics on cognitive performance. Sports Med 32: 555–566, 2002.
Buller EF. The Relationship between Grit and Academic, Military and Physical Performance at the United States Military Academy. 2012. Available at: https://kuscholarworks.ku.edu/handle/1808/15084. Accessed March 28, 2022.
Chang Y, Labban J, Gapin J, Etnier J. The effects of acute exercise on cognitive performance: A meta-analysis. Brain Res 1453: 87–101, 2012.
Department of Defense. 2021 Demographics Profile of the Military Community, 2021.
Eddy MD, Hasselquist L, Giles G, et al. The effects of load carriage and physical fatigue on cognitive performance. PLoS One 10: e0130817, 2015.
Evans MDR, Kelley P, Kelley J. Identifying the best times for cognitive functioning using new methods: Matching University times to undergraduate chronotypes. Front Hum Neurosci 11: 188, 2017.
Facer-Childs ER, Boiling S, Balanos GM. The effects of time of day and chronotype on cognitive and physical performance in healthy volunteers. Sports Med Open 4: 47, 2018.
Giles GE, Hasselquist L, Caruso CM, Eddy MD. Load carriage and physical exertion influence cognitive control in military scenarios. Med Sci Sports Exerc 51: 2540–2546, 2019.
Gnacinski SL, Meyer BB, Cornell DJ, et al. Tactical athletes: An integrated approach to understanding and enhancing the health and performance of firefighters-in-training. Int J Exerc Sci 8: 341–357, 2015.
Godhe M, Helge T, Mattsson CM, Ekblom Ö, Ekblom B. Physiological factors of importance for load carriage in experienced and inexperienced men and women. Mil Med 185: e1168–e1174, 2020.
Harris DV, Harris BL. The Athlete’s Guide to Sports Psychology: Mental Skills for Physical People. New York: Leisure Press, 1984.
Headquarters, Department of the Army. Soldier–s Manual of Common Tasks; Warrior Skills Level 1, Createspace Independent Publishing Platform, Scotts Valley, California, 2015.
Headquarters, Department of the Army. ATP 3-21.18: Foot Marches, Createspace Independent Publishing Platform, Scotts Valley, California, 2017.
Headquarters, Department of the Army. ATP 7-22.01: Holistic Health and Fitness Drills and Exercises, 2020.
Heaton KJ, Maule AL, Maruta J, Kryskow EM, Ghajar J. Attention and visual tracking degradation during acute sleep deprivation in a military sample. Aviat Space Environ Med 85: 497–503, 2014.
Kimura D, Hosokawa T, Ujikawa T, Ito T. Effects of different exercise intensities on prefrontal activity during a dual task. Sci Rep 12: 13008, 2022.
Knapik JJ, Reynolds KL, Harman E. Soldier load carriage: Historical, physiological, biomechanical, and medical aspects. Mil Med 169: 45–56, 2004.
Kong PW, Suyama J, Hostler D. A review of risk factors of accidental slips, trips, and falls among firefighters. Saf Sci 60: 203–209, 2013.
Levine DA, Gross AL, Briceño EM, et al. Sex differences in cognitive decline among US adults. JAMA Netw Open 4: e210169, 2021.
Lyons J, Allsopp A, Bilzon J. Influences of body composition upon the relative metabolic and cardiovascular demands of load-carriage. Occup Med (Lond) 55: 380–384, 2005.
Mahoney CR, Hirsch E, Hasselquist L, Lesher LL, Lieberman HR. The effects of movement and physical exertion on soldier vigilance. Aviat Space Environ Med 78(5 Suppl): B51–B57, 2007.
Main LC, McLoughlin LT, Flanagan SD, Canino MC, Banks S. Monitoring cognitive function in the fatigued warfighter: A rapid review of cognitive biomarkers. J Sci Med Sport 26: S54–S63, 2023.
Mala J, Szivak TK, Flanagan SD, et al. The role of strength and power during performance of high intensity military tasks under heavy load carriage. US Army Med Department J 3–11, 2015.
Martin K, Périard J, Rattray B, Pyne DB. Physiological factors which influence cognitive performance in military personnel. Hum Factors 62: 93–123, 2020.
Mullins AK, Annett LE, Drain JR, et al. Lower limb kinematics and physiological responses to prolonged load carriage in untrained individuals. Ergonomics 58: 770–780, 2015.
Nindl BC, Eagle SR, Frykman PN, et al. Functional physical training improves women's military occupational performance. J Sci Med Sport 20: S91–S97, 2017.
Pilz-Burstein R, Klein-Grufi H, Yakobian D, Arnon M. Cognitive function in response to an acute, high intensity exercise-does gender plays a role? Eur J Sport Sci 2: 8–14, 2023.
Robinson J, Roberts A, Irving S, Orr R. Aerobic fitness is of greater importance than strength and power in the load carriage performance of specialist police. Int J Exerc Sci 11: 987–998, 2018.
Santhi N, Groeger JA, Archer SN, et al. Morning sleep inertia in alertness and performance: Effect of cognitive domain and white light conditions. PLoS One 8: e79688, 2013.
Sax van der Weyden M, Martin J, Rodriguez J, Boolani A. An intense bout of acute aerobic exercise, but not a carbohydrate supplement, improves cognitive task performance in a sample of black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) student athletes. Sports 11: 88, 2023.
Sax van der Weyden M, Toczko M, Martin J. Load Carriage Effects on Cognitive Function Among Military Personnel—A Critically Appraised Topic: TSAC Report, 2022.
Scofield DE, Kardouni JR. The tactical athlete: A product of 21st century strength and conditioning. Strength Cond J 37: 2–7, 2015.
Sharp MA. Physical Fitness, Physical Training and Occupational Performance of Men and Women in the U.S. Army: A Review of Literature. Fort Belvoir, VA: Defense Technical Information Center, 1993.
Sipavičienė S, Dumčienė A, Ramanauskienė I, Skurvydas A. Effect of single physical load of different duration and intensity on cognitive function. Med Kaunas 48: 218–223, 2012.
Smith PJ, Blumenthal JA, Hoffman BM, et al. Aerobic exercise and neurocognitive performance: A meta-analytic review of randomized controlled trials. Psychosom Med 72: 239–252, 2010.
Stone BL, Beneda-Bender M, McCollum DL, et al. Understanding cognitive performance during exercise in Reserve Officers' Training Corps: Establishing the executive function-exercise intensity relationship. J Appl Physiol 129: 846–854, 2020.
Ulman S, Srinivasan D, Nussbaum MA. Task demand and load carriage experience affect gait variability among military cadets. Sci Rep 12: 18347, 2022.
Upadhayay N, Guragain S. Comparison of cognitive functions between male and female medical students: A pilot study. J Clin Diagn Res 8: BC12–BC15, 2014.
Webb C, Hewett K. An Analysis of U.S. Army Fratricide Incidents During the Global War on Terror (11 September 2001 to 31 March 2008). Ft. Belvoir, VA: Defense Technical Information Center, 2010.
Williams RA, Cooper SB, Dring KJ, et al. Effect of football activity and physical fitness on information processing, inhibitory control and working memory in adolescents. BMC Public Health 20: 1398, 2020.
Withrow KL, Rubin DA, Dawes JJ, et al. Army combat fitness test relationships to tactical foot march performance in Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadets. Biology 12: 477, 2023.
Xu S, Akioma M, Yuan Z. Relationship between circadian rhythm and brain cognitive functions. Front Optoelectron 14: 278–287, 2021.

Auteurs

Megan Sax van der Weyden (M)

Sports Medicine Assessment Research & Testing (SMART) Laboratory, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia.

Justin J Merrigan (JJ)

Independent Researcher, Holly Ridge, North Carolina.

Kayleigh Newman (K)

Sports Medicine Assessment Research & Testing (SMART) Laboratory, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia.

Joseph Hahn (J)

Sports Medicine Assessment Research & Testing (SMART) Laboratory, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia.

Joel Martin (J)

Sports Medicine Assessment Research & Testing (SMART) Laboratory, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia.

Classifications MeSH