Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Bruce H Jones

Publications and source records attributed to Bruce H Jones.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Temporal changes in the physical fitness of US Army recruits.

This article defines physical fitness and then reviews the literature on temporal trends in the physical fitness of new US Army recruits. Nineteen papers were found that met the review criteria and had published recruit fitness data from 1975 to 2003. The limited data on recruit muscle strength suggested an increase from 1978 to 1998 (20-year period). Data on push-ups and sit-ups suggested no change in muscular endurance between 1984 and 2003 (19-year period). Limited data suggested that maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) [mL/kg/min] of male recruits did not change from 1975 to 1998 (23-year period), while there was some indication of a small increase in female recruit VO2max in the same period. On the other hand, slower times on 1-mile (1.6km) and 2-mile (3.2km) runs indicate declines in aerobic performance from 1987 to 2003 (16-year period). The apparent discrepancy between the VO2max and endurance running data may indicate that recruits are not as proficient at applying their aerobic capability to performance tasks, such as timed runs, possibly because of factors such as increased bodyweight, reduced experience with running, lower motivation and/or environmental factors. Recruit height, weight and body mass index have progressively increased between 1978 and 2003 (25-year period). Both the body fat and fat-free mass of male recruits increased from 1978 to 1998 (20-year period); however, body composition data on female recruits did not show a consistent trend. In this same time period, the literature contained little data on youth physical activity but there was some suggestion that caloric consumption increased. This article indicates that temporal trends in recruit fitness differ depending on the fitness component measured. The very limited comparable data on civilian populations showed trends similar to the recruit data.

Body Composition↗
PubMed2006

Increasing the physical fitness of low-fit recruits before basic combat training: an evaluation of fitness, injuries, and training outcomes.

Recruits arriving for basic combat training (BCT) between October 1999 and May 2004 were administered an entry-level physical fitness test at the reception station. If they failed the test, then they entered the Fitness Assessment Program (FAP), where they physically trained until they passed the test and subsequently entered BCT. The effectiveness of the FAP was evaluated by examining fitness, injury, and training outcomes. Recruits who failed the test, trained in the FAP, and entered BCT after passing the test were designated the preconditioning (PC) group (64 men and 94 women). Recruits who failed the test but were allowed to enter BCT without going into the FAP were called the no preconditioning (NPC) group (32 men and 73 women). Recruits who passed the test and directly entered BCT were designated the no need of preconditioning (NNPC) group (1,078 men and 731 women). Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) scores and training outcomes were obtained from a company-level database, and injured recruits were identified from cases documented in medical records. The proportions of NPC, PC, and NNPC recruits who completed the 9-week BCT cycle were 59%, 83%, and 87% for men (p < 0.01) and 52%, 69%, and 78% for women (p < 0.01), respectively. Because of attrition, only 63% of the NPC group took the week 7 APFT, compared with 84% and 86% of the PC and NNPC groups, respectively. The proportions of NPC, PC, and NNPC recruits who passed the final APFT after all retakes were 88%, 92%, and 98% for men (p < 0.01) and 89%, 92%, and 97% for women (p < 0.01), respectively. Compared with NNPC men, injury risk was 1.5 (95% confidence interval, 1.0-2.2) and 1.7 (95% confidence interval, 1.0-3.1) times higher for PC and NPC men, respectively. Compared with NNPC women, injury risk was 1.2 (95% confidence interval, 0.9-1.6) and 1.5 (95% confidence interval, 1.1-2.1) times higher for PC and NPC women, respectively. This program evaluation showed that low-fit recruits who preconditioned before BCT had reduced attrition and tended to have lower injury risk, compared with recruits of similar low fitness who did not precondition.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Injuries and illnesses among armor brigade soldiers during operational training.

This study describes injury and illness rates and some risk factors among soldiers from an armor division during a rotation at the National Training Center (Fort Irwin, California). Soldiers from a brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division were involved in a 5-week training exercise at the National Training Center. Health care visits were systematically recorded by the unit medics. Of 4,101 men and 413 women who participated in the exercise, 504 soldiers (409 men and 95 women) sought medical care at the main support medical clinic or Weed Army Community Hospital. The rates of injury and illness visits were 1.2% and 0.6% per week for men and 2.3% and 2.2% per week for women, respectively. Women had twice the risk of an injury and 3.5 times the risk of an illness, compared with men. Compared with other branches, combat service support soldiers had higher rates of injuries and illnesses. Enlisted soldiers of lower rank (E1-E4) experienced higher injury and illness rates than did noncommissioned officers and commissioned officers. Musculoskeletal injuries, environmental conditions, and dermatological conditions accounted for most visits.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed2006

The basis for prescribed ability group run speeds and distances in U.S. Army basic combat training.

During the first few days of Army Basic Combat Training (BCT), recruits take a running test and after completing this test they are ranked from fast to slow. Four roughly equal-sized "ability groups" are established from these rankings and recruits run together in these groups for their physical training during BCT. In the past, there has been no formal guidance regarding how fast or how far these ability groups should run. To fill this void, this study provides guidance for running speeds and distances during BCT. The major considerations included are: (1) minimizing injuries, (2) the initial aerobic fitness level of recruits, (3) historical improvements in run times during BCT, (4) historical running speeds of the slower individuals in each ability group, (5) running speeds that must be achieved to "pass" the 2-mile run in BCT, (6) the gender composition of the ability groups, and (7) recommendations from the trainers and field testing. Three databases were analyzed that contained a total of 16,716 men and 11,600 women. Four steps were used in the analyses: (1) establishment of run-time cut points for representative ability groups, (2) determination of initial (starting) run speeds, (3) estimation of changes in run speeds with training, and (4) establishment of run speeds and distances for each week of BCT. Efforts were made to (1) keep the running speeds between 70% and 83% of the estimated maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) for all ability groups, (2) consider the 2-mile running pace of the slower individuals in each ability group, and (3) keep the total running distance for the two slower ability groups below a total of 25 miles, the apparent threshold for increasing injury incidence. A chart provides speeds and distances for each ability group at each week of BCT. Using these recommended speeds and distances should allow trainees to improve their aerobic fitness, pass the Army Physical Fitness Test, and minimize injuries that result in lost training time and, ultimately, lower fitness levels.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Evaluation of a standardized physical training program for basic combat training.

A control group (CG, n = 1,138) that implemented a traditional Basic Combat Training (BCT) physical training (PT) program was compared to an evaluation group (EG, n = 829) that implemented a PT program newly designed for BCT. The Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) was taken at various points in the PT program, and injuries were obtained from a medical surveillance system. After 9 weeks of training, the proportion failing the APFT was lower in the EG than in the CG (1.7 vs. 3.3%, p = 0.03). After adjustment for initial fitness levels, age, and body mass index, the relative risk of an injury in the CG was 1.6 (95% confidence interval [CI] =1.2-2.0) and 1.5 (95% CI = 1.2-1.8) times higher than in the EG for men and women, respectively. The newly designed PT program resulted in higher fitness test pass rates and lower injury rates compared to a traditional BCT physical training program.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2004

Disability among adults injured in motor-vehicle crashes in the United States.

INTRODUCTION: Little population-based information exists about the long-term effects of motor-vehicle crash-related injuries. METHOD: We analyzed data from the 1995 National Health Interview Survey Disability (NHIS-D) Supplement to estimate the prevalence of crash-related disability among noninstitutionalized U.S. adults aged 18 years and older. RESULTS: More than 1.2 million adults were living in their homes with the disabling effects of motor-vehicle crash-related injuries in 1995. The prevalence of crash-related disability was highest for persons in their mid-life years, ages 35-64. Half of the respondents had sustained the injuries more than 5 years before the interview. Forty-one percent of working-aged individuals reported being unable to work because of their disability. CONCLUSIONS: Because crash-related disability is most prevalent during the mid-life years, quality of life and productivity may be affected for decades. These findings highlight the personal and societal burden associated with motor-vehicle crash-related disability in the United States.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2004

Motor vehicle fatalities among men in the U.S. Army from 1980 to 1997.

This retrospective cohort study compared trends in motor vehicle occupant fatalities among men in the Army with men in the civilian U.S. population. Motor vehicle fatality rates from 1980 to 1997 indicated both groups showed declines in fatality rates. The overall age-adjusted motor vehicle fatality rate for 17- to 44-year-old males in the Army fell from 40.8 to 20.6 per 100,000, a 49.5% decline. In the U.S. population, the rate dropped from 38.1 to 23.3 per 100,000 for a 38.8% decline. Deaths from motor vehicle crashes fell by almost 50% in the Army during the study period; however, motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for the Army. U.S. military policies and law enforcement have the potential to make even further gains in reducing motor vehicle crashes and injuries among military personnel.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2003

Motorcycle casualties sustained during Daytona Beach Bike Week 2000: lessons learned.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: In March 2000, an estimated 500,000 people attended an annual motorcycle rally in Daytona Beach, FL, where approximately 64,000 residents live year-round. The media reported 15 deaths during this 10-day event. To more comprehensively assess the extent of trauma and need for emergency medical care, we investigated all motorcycle crashes, regardless of outcome. METHODS: Motorcycle-related crash data from local medical examiner, hospital, emergency medical services (EMS), and police sources were linked. Frequencies of crashes, injuries, hospitalizations, and deaths were determined, and EMS use data were analyzed. RESULTS: During Bike Week 2000, 570 people were involved in 281 motorcycle-related crashes. Two hundred thirty (40%) people were injured, of which 147 (64%) sought treatment in emergency departments, 72 (31%) were hospitalized, and 11 (5%) died. In crashes between motorcycles and passenger cars, individuals exposed as motorcycle occupants were 8.7 times more likely to be injured than car occupants (95% confidence limit 1.7, 15.7). Of 205 EMS dispatches for motorcycle-related crashes, two thirds resulted in transport to an ED. Data needed to assess known risk factors (eg, alcohol use, speed, lack of helmet use) were not routinely ascertained at either the crash site or ED. CONCLUSION: Although fatalities first called attention to the problem, nonfatal injuries outnumbered deaths 20:1. The manpower resources of civil service and health resources could become overwhelmed or exhausted in circumstances in which many people are injured or killed throughout a relatively long period. The situation deserves future study. Better risk factor surveillance is needed to help prevent crashes.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2003

Risk factors for injuries during military parachuting.

INTRODUCTION: Parachuting is an activity performed by a variety of occupational groups including the military, firefighters (smoke jumpers), and rescue groups. METHODS: This paper systematically reviewed the literature on injury risk factors for soldiers performing static line parachuting from military aircraft. Jump-related injuries were defined as those occurring from the time the soldier exited the aircraft until he or she released their parachute harness on the ground. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Despite methodological differences, where two or more studies examined a particular risk factor, results were generally similar. Higher injury risk was associated with higher wind speed, night jumps, jumps from airplanes (vs. balloons and helicopters), jumps wearing additional equipment jumps without ankle braces, uneven terrain on the drop zone, and female gender. Risk factors identified in only single studies included a greater number of soldiers exiting the aircraft, winds from the rear of the aircraft, simultaneous exits from doors on opposite sides of the aircraft, smaller parachute canopies, higher ambient air temperatures, and airborne refresher courses (vs. introductory courses). Further studies are needed which use a multivariate approach to evaluate the relative impact of the various risk factors and their interactions. CONCLUSIONS: This paper identified a number of risk factors relevant to all parachutists (e.g., wind speed, female gender) and some relevant primarily to the military and other tactical parachutists such as smoke jumpers (e.g., equipment weight). Knowledge of these risk factors can assist parachutists and those that train them in their risk analysis.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed2002

Musculoskeletal injuries in an Army airborne population.

To maintain operational readiness, military personnel engage in vigorous physical and training activities that carry risk for injury. A 1-year prospective cohort study, starting April 1996, was conducted at Fort Bragg, North Carolina among 1,965 members of the 82nd Airborne Division to quantify musculoskeletal injuries. Information collected included type of injury, site, circumstances, and resultant limited duty days. These soldiers suffered 508 overuse injuries (including 38 stress fractures), 1,415 traumatic injuries (including 100 fractures), and 101 unclassified injuries. Injury rates were 6.8% per soldier per month for traumatic injury and 2.4% for overuse injury (totaling 1.2 injuries per soldier per year). Injuries resulted in 22,041 limited duty days, averaging 11 days per injury and 13 days per soldier (4.5% of total workdays). Fractures and stress fractures/reactions produced the most days lost per case. Most of these injuries resulted from military-specific activities.

Adult↗