Swiss Army Physical Fitness Training (SAFT)

Swiss Army Physical Fitness Training - An Intervention Study Investigating the Influence of the Swiss Armed Forces' New Sport Concept on Physical and Psychological Parameters of the Recruits

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the new sport concept of the Swiss Armed Forces influences the physical and psychological fitness of the recruits.

The physical and psychological demands in the Swiss Army basic military service are high. Injury incidences in Swiss Army training schools are higher than in armed forces of other countries.There is evidence that progressive loading of physical demands at the beginning of basic military service and specific physical training can reduce injury incidences and attrition rates. A new sport concept by the Swiss Army takes into account these results of previous studies. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the influences of this new sport concept on the physical and psychological fitness as well as on the injury and attrition rates of the recruits.

Sport according to the new sport concept ("Swiss Army Physical Fitness Training") of the Swiss Armed Forces

2 x 90 minutes strength training and sport games and 2 x 30 minutes endurance training per week during 18 weeks of basic military training

All injuries which are registered in the patient's medical record are collected and classified. A classification system which takes into account anatomical site, circumstances of the accident, and severity of the injury is used.

Physical Fitness is measured with the Swiss physical fitness test battery (SPFTB). The SPFTB contains a progressive endurance run, a trunk muscle strength test, a standing long jump, a seated shot put, and a one-leg standing test. From the results of those performance tests (0 to 25 points each), a total fitness score is calculated (sum of all points). The minimum total score (worst result) is 0 points, the maximum total score (best result) is 125 points. A detailed description of the SPFTB can be found in the publication of Wyss, Marti, Rossi, Kohler and Mäder (2007).

2 questionaires concerning resilience were used: The Resilience Scale 11 (Schumacher, Leppert, Gunzelmann, Strauss & Brähler, 2005) and the Brief Resilience Scale (Smith, Dalen, Wiggings, Tooley, Christopher & Bernard, 2008). A mean was calculated for each time point. The total score ranges from 1 (worst result) to 7 (best result).

Military marks are given by superior Army personnel. The total score ranges from 1 (insufficient) to 5 (excellent). In total, three marks are given during the whole basic military training (after 7, 11 and 16 weeks). Data from those three time points are combined in a single value (mean).

Duration of each sport session was registered in a questionnaire by the military personnel. The minimum would be 0 minutes of sport per week, for the maximum the scale is open-ended. Data of sport lessons during the whole basic military are combined and presented as a mean value for each group.

Daily energy expenditure was measured using two accelerometers and one heart rate sensor. Data from weeks 2-9 of the basic military were combined and a single value (mean) was calculated for each group.

Daily distance covered on foot was measured using two accelerometers and one heart rate sensor. Data from weeks 2-9 of the basic military were combined and a single value (mean) was calculated for each group.

Inclusion Criteria: Recruits of the Swiss Army rescue training schools 75 2/2015 and 3/2015 Exclusion Criteria: None

Roos L, Boesch M, Sefidan S, Frey F, Mader U, Annen H, Wyss T. Adapted marching distances and physical training decrease recruits' injuries and attrition. Mil Med. 2015 Mar;180(3):329-36. doi: 10.7205/MILMED-D-14-00184.

Wyss T, Roos L, Hofstetter MC, Frey F, Mader U. Impact of training patterns on injury incidences in 12 Swiss Army basic military training schools. Mil Med. 2014 Jan;179(1):49-55. doi: 10.7205/MILMED-D-13-00289.

Hofstetter MC, Mader U, Wyss T. Effects of a 7-week outdoor circuit training program on Swiss Army recruits. J Strength Cond Res. 2012 Dec;26(12):3418-25. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e318245bebe.

Wyss T, Mader U. Energy expenditure estimation during daily military routine with body-fixed sensors. Mil Med. 2011 May;176(5):494-9. doi: 10.7205/milmed-d-10-00376.

Wyss T, Mader U. Recognition of military-specific physical activities with body-fixed sensors. Mil Med. 2010 Nov;175(11):858-64. doi: 10.7205/milmed-d-10-00023.

Wyss, T, Marti, B, Rossi, S, Kohler, U, & Mäder, U (2007). Assembling and Verfification of a Fitness Test Battery for the Recruitment of the Swiss Army and Nation-wide Use. Schweizerische Zeitschrift für

Smith BW, Dalen J, Wiggins K, Tooley E, Christopher P, Bernard J. The brief resilience scale: assessing the ability to bounce back. Int J Behav Med. 2008;15(3):194-200. doi: 10.1080/10705500802222972.

Schumacher, J, Leppert, K, Gunzelmann, T, Strauss, B, & Brähler, E(2005). Die Resilienzskala - Ein Fragebogen zur Erfassung der psychischen Widerstandsfähigkeit als Personmerkmal. Zeitschrift für klinische Psychologie, Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, 53(1), 16-39.