Citation

Bergeron MF, Nindl BC, Deuster PA, Baumgartner N, Kane SF, Kraemer WJ, Sexauer LR, Thompson WR, O'Connor FG. Curr. Sports Med. Rep. 2011; 10(6): 383-389.

Affiliation

National Institute for Athletic Health & Performance, Sanford USD Medical Center, Sioux Falls, SD; The U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA; Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD; AETC Force Fitness, HQ AETC/A3TH, Randolph Air Force Base, TX; Family/Sports Medicine, Fort Bragg, NC; Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology Unit 1110, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT; Navy Installations Command, Washington, DC; Department of Kinesiology and Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA; and Department of Military and Emergency Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1249/JSR.0b013e318237bf8a

PMID

22071400

Abstract

A potential emerging problem associated with increasingly popularized extreme conditioning programs (ECPs) has been identified by the military and civilian communities. That is, there is an apparent disproportionate musculoskeletal injury risk from these demanding programs, particularly for novice participants, resulting in lost duty time, medical treatment, and extensive rehabilitation. This is a significant and costly concern for the military with regard to effectively maintaining operational readiness of the Force. While there are certain recognized positive aspects of ECPs that address a perceived and/or actual unfulfilled conditioning need for many individuals and military units, these programs have limitations and should be considered carefully. Moreover, certain distinctive characteristics of ECPs appear to violate recognized accepted standards for safely and appropriately developing muscular fitness and are not uniformly aligned with established and accepted training doctrine. Accordingly, practical solutions to improve ECP prescription and implementation and reduce injury risk are of paramount importance.

Language: en