PROFILES OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY DURING FIELD EXERCISES FOR ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL – A PILOT STUDY

Abstract

The aim of this pilot study was to identify the profiles (intensity) of physical activity during field exercises using the example of active duty military personnel of the defence forces. Forty-one active duty servicemen from the Scouts Battalion participated in the pilot study as subjects. To record movement, we applied activity and intensity accelero- meters (ActiGraph LLC, Pensacola, FL, USA). The subjects carried accelerometers during the observation period on their right hip and removed them in water environ- ments, i.e., when swimming and washing. The current study deals with the move- ment activity of active duty servicemen during field exercises where daytime move- ment activity dominates over the sedentary intensity level. The rate of occurrences of high and very high movement intensity indicates the need and readiness to conduct short-term and intensive activities. Different movement activity profiles characterise the versatile nature of activities carried out by active duty servicemen, and the distri- bution of tasks in military units.