By Maj Ross Railton,
Directorate of Preventive Health
 |
|
Throwing
a footy around for ad hoc PT isn’t always the best
move.
Photo by AB Kaye Adams
|
In
the ADF, a great emphasis is being placed on the development of
physical fitness both during non-operational periods and during
pre-deployment training.
Instructors go to great lengths to ensure that physical training
programs are suitably structured and conducted in a safe environment
under optimal conditions.
The maintenance of high fitness levels and decreased incidence
of injury are likely to occur with the assistance of formal PT
courses (Combat Fitness Leader), Sport Safety Management Plans,
Defence Safety Management Agency risk analyses, formal lesson
plans and appropriate supervision.
However, on deployment, owing to the operational requirements
of ADF members, the maintenance of physical fitness is often considered
low priority. Physical training is engaged in an ad hoc basis
– quite often in off-duty hours; using poor quality and poorly
maintained equipment; unsupervised or conducted by personnel with
a minimal understanding of the delivery of fitness and injury
prevention principles; and often repetitive in nature.
On operations, playing team sports might seem an easy, safe and
effective means of maintaining fitness, however, considerable
preliminary skill and fitness work is required to safely engage
in these activities.
The number of injuries that occur on operations through playing
poorly supervised and managed sport or PT activities creates a
significant decrease in capability at a time when it is not easily
replaced or rehabilitated.
This raises the issue of physical conditioning for activity distinct
from “pure” fitness.
Physical conditioning is the physiological adaptation required
to safely operate equipment and weapon systems and function effectively
in a range of harsh climatic conditions.
Physical conditioning includes the requirement to develop skills
not normally associated with aerobic fitness and strength such
as agility, balance, co-ordination and core stability.
Conditioning involves activity-specific training, which teaches
the body to be able to manoeuvre the relevant equipment or weapon
systems.
Pre-deployment conditioning should consider the operational
requirements and build the program’s activities around these
capabilities.
A study by Defence Health Service, conducted by DSTO, is investigating
the effects of operational demands on physical conditioning.
Results from this study will add valuable information to the development
of appropriate maintenance conditioning programs that should be
employed both before and during operations.
Physical conditioning is essential in the maintenance of operational
capability. However, observation of the principles of delivery
– appropriately trained personnel, scientifically-based training
programs devised through the recognition of operational requirements,
monitoring of the environment for safe and optimal conditions
and the awareness of the health status of personnel – are
required to optimise physical performance and not contribute to
unwanted capability degradation.
