Did you know that service members are more likely to be injured in noncombat situations than in combat? Common physical setbacks like knee pain and injuries, ankle injuries and back pain most often occur during unit or garrison physical training sessions or sports related activities. These injuries contribute to a high rate of medically unavailable active duty personnel, and can even force service members into early retirement. The right training program can help protect service members from the physical pain and costly recovery time of injuries, leading to longer, healthier careers.
Effectively training the military athlete requires a balanced approach to physical training for the physical demands of the job that also minimizes risk for injury and provides education for service members to continue to train on their own. Service members’ natural tendency is to bring 100 percent to the job, 100 percent of the time — whether they are overseas, at home, or training in the gym. That is good for their job but not when trying to reduce injuries and recover from injuries. It is important for active duty personnel to find balance through recovery, nutrition, and sleep quality strategies. Service members spend limited time in one place and should, therefore, be empowered with the information needed to continue training and recovery strategies on their own. Focusing on movement quality should not come at the expense of performance. Balancing movement quality with the appropriate intensity level needed for performance will allow the member to make the necessary gains while minimizing the risk of injury. This balance is usually found in a properly planned and periodized training plan with recovery built in to avoid burn-out and/or injury.
A focus on movement quality and training goes beyond learning the right way to run, to lift a barbell or complete a squat. An effective periodized training program will also focus on first, teaching correct movement patterns while educating on the reason behind the movement correction. Armed with the education there is an increased likelihood of a long-term positive impact on their training and movement in general. By providing the member with the knowledge on correct movement patterns, the member will be able to continue to follow a training program on their own, without professional guidance.
So, how do you find the right training program? The one that is going to be the best fit for your current job and life demands that combines an effective, high quality fitness program combining strength, conditioning and mobility and accounts for adequate rest and recovery? Reach out to your local PSP Fitness and Health Promotions departments. These subject matter experts are professionally trained in all things fitness training, exercise physiology, mobility training, and recovery methods and will set you on the right path to achieving your training goals without compromising safety!
Janice Keown, BSc. Kin, CSEP-CPT/High Performance Specialist, ACSM EP-C, Fitness Coordinator, PSP CFB Kingston