Changes in Coordination Motor Abilities of Naval Academy Cadets During Military Survival Training

INTRODUCTION: Armed conflicts tend to be unpredictable to such an extent that the fact that seamen also have to fight for their survival on land cannot be excluded. The aim of the study was to determine the degree of changes in selected coordination motor abilities in the course of a 36-h military survival training of Naval Academy cadets.

METHODS: There were 14 Polish Naval Academy cadets, ages 20–27 yr, who were examined 4 times: pretraining, after 24 h, posttraining, and after a 12-h rest. Tests related to the following issues were carried out: divided attention, shooting performance, strength of forearm muscles and ability of its differentiations, body balance, and running motor adjustment. During the training soldiers had to perform the following tasks: first aid in the battlefield, building, water crossing to the enemy base, marching to the azimuth, operations in the recon team, and conducting observations.

RESULTS: The maximum strength of forearm muscles during the training decreased from 7–10% during each and every measurement. The ability to differentiate the strength of the forearm muscles after the night part of the training deteriorated (about 9%). There was a systematic deterioration of the ability to maintain balance (between P1 and P4 by 24%).

CONCLUSION: A 36-h training at a survival school varied the selected coordination motor abilities. Training should include exercises that develop an ability to differentiate muscle strength, motor adjustment, and balance. These exercises fall within the scope of coordination exercises that can be performed during obligatory physical education classes.

Tomczak A, Różański P, Jówko E. Changes in coordination motor abilities of naval academy cadets during military survival training. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2019; 90(7):632–636.