Physical Optimization of the Paratrooper’s Operational Fitness

The profession of arms is relatively demanding. The soldier is confronted to physical and psychological constraints which increase regularly during the phase of instruction and training and reached their peak in external operation (OPEX).

Working in an emergency, operating in a hostile sector, using your weapon, saving your life danger, being close to death and human distress, are stressors that affect the individual potential immediately and deeply to degrees that can be mitigated by good mental health and good general physical condition. The capacity operational strength of the troops is therefore closely linked to their level of physical preparation. The paratroopers have extreme operational constraints, the jump in itself coupled with the load carried (from 60 to 90kg), this can lead to different types of accidents and injuries [1]. Their physical preparation is precise and demanding. Injuries are still too common. Knapik [2] reported injury incidence in jumping (8/1000), and in operations (19 to 401/1000). However, all injuries incurred by military staff, the largest proportion (ranging from 32%-63%) are associated with engaging Physical Training (PT) and sports [3]. A new training method in application of a new doctrine [4] is implemented in France to optimize physical condition and reduce injuries.

a) To evaluate the impact of the new training method on physical conditioning (n=581)

b) To evaluate the impact of a new training method on injuries in paratroopers (n=117)

After acquiring characteristics of sports practices and effects of training on paratroopers from 8ème RPIMa’s, measures were implemented as part of the new training method [5]. Physical conditioning data were collected from 581 soldiers (age: 20-28 years) before the implementation of the new doctrine training and after 6 months of this training (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Time study diagram.

Among them, 117 soldiers (age: 25±4 years-old, BMI=24±2kg/ m2) followed a renovated program with specially formed and trained supervisors.

The new physical training (7h/week) consisted of 50% Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and 50% strength work. The program included functional training and HIIT.

The sport office supervised the explanation of the program of the sessions to the managers and group leaders and had distributed a simplified booklet from the National Defense Sports Center [4].

The medical service and sport office followed all this observational period.

Measurements were performed at both study-periods:

a) CRF assessed by the Cooper test [6].

b) General muscle capacity (climbing rope)

c) Specific muscle capacity (abdominals)

a) No significant differences between the classical training method and the new training method on physical conditioning (CRF, general muscle capacity and specific muscle capacity).

b) The physical renovated training allowed a marked improvement in sports-related pathologies. The rate of injuries related to sports activity decreased from 65% to 22% in the first-year follow-up. Diseases due to hyper-solicitation, which accounted for 40% of injuries, dropped to 1%. The risk of injury after a 1-year follow-up decreased from 48% to 16% (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Percentage of injuries before and after the implementation of the new physical training method.

Although military and sports physical training manual [4] recommends an equal share of running and resistance training for physical training of soldiers, this partition is rarely implemented in practice since running is often predominant. However, the results of this study show that more modern training combining running and strength training reduces injuries. This training can in particular integrate muscle strengthening in functional form and allowing the integration of plyometric and muscle cladding exercises. The practice of the new training method must therefore be popularized, as well as the reduction of the weekly mileage running, in accordance with Ressort et al. [7]. Overall, the diversification and personalization of training must be the focus of attention in order to achieve a modernization of physical, military and sports training.

The intervention was highly successful in reducing injury rates. However, preventive measures must also be considered individually in order to reduce the risk as much as possible. This study supports the importance of supervisor’s executive education to new method training and prevention of risks and injuries.

Authors are grateful to the army health and sports teams and the soldiers who participated in this study.

Authors declared no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this manuscript.

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