Physical performance of military personnel before and during the Covid-19 pandemic

This investigation aimed to compare the level of physical performance of the military of the 3rd Military Police Battalion before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants were 82 military personnel (76 men) who were submitted to the Physical Fitness Test (PFT) in November 2019 and repeated it in September 2020. The 12-minute and VO₂max tests were selected for cardiorespiratory evaluation and push-ups and sit-up tests to assess localized muscle resistance. The results showed a decrease in the performance of these soldiers, both in cardiorespiratory variables and in localized muscular resistance (p ≤ 0.05). The pandemic may have negatively influenced the physical performance of the military.

Keywords:
Physical exercise; Functional physical performance; Military; COVID-19

Tests	2019			2020
Tests	Minimum	Maximum	Mean ± SD	Minimum	Maximum	Mean ± SD	p-value
12-minute run	2,100	3,300	2,882.93 ± 264.60	1,900	3,900	2,683.54 ± 380.55	0,01**
VO₂max	35	62.10	52.86 ± 5.88	31	75.50	48.44 ± 8.46	0,03*
Push-ups	1	57	36.85 ± 8.05	16	60	33.60 ± 9.59	0,01**
Sit-up	1	100	74.90 ± 17.30	35	157	68.02 ± 19.73	0,01**

Tests	2019	2020	p-value
Tests	n = 82	n = 82	p-value
12-minute run			0,01**
Excellent	20 (24.4%)	9 (11%)
Very good	8 (9.8%)	11 (13.4%)
Good	51 (62.2%)	26 (31.7%)
Regular	1 (1.2%)	12 (14.6%)
Insufficient	2 (2.4%)	24 (29.3%)
Push-ups			0,01**
Excellent	42 (51.2%)	25 (30.5%)
Very good	16 (19.5%)	17 (20.7%)
Good	22 (26.9)	30 (36.6%)
Regular	1 (1.2%)	4 (4.9%)
Insufficient	1 (1.2%)	6 (7.3%)
Sit-up			0,01**
Excellent	56 (68.3%)	39 (47.6%)
Very good	5 (6.1%)	12 (14.6%)
Good	20 (24.4%)	28 (34.1%)
Regular	0 (0%)	3 (3.7%)
Insufficient	1 (1.2%)	0 (0%)
Final Mention			0,01**
Excellent	18 (22%)	7 (8.5%)
Very good	8 (9.8%)	7 (8.5%)
Good	52 (63.4%)	32 (39%)
Regular	2 (2.4%)	12 (14.6%)
Insufficient	2 (2.4%)	24 (29.4%)

Year 2019	Year 2020
Year 2019	Yes	No	Total
Yes	58 (70.7%)	22 (16.8%)	80 (97.6%)
No	0 (0%)	2 (2.4%)	2 (2.4%)
Total	58 (70.7%)	24 (29.93)	82 (100%)

Year 2019	Year 2020
Year 2019	Excellent	Very good	Good	Regular	Insufficient	Total
Excellent	6 (7.3%)	4 (4.9%)	8 (9.8%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	18 (22%)
Very good	1 (1.2%)	3 (3.7%)	4 (4.9%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	8 (9.8%)
Good	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	19 (23.2%)	12 (14.6%)	21 (25.6%)	52 (63.4%)
Regular	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	1 (1.2%)	0 (0%)	1 (1.2%)	2 (2.4%)
Insufficient	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	2 (2.4%)	2 (2.4%)
Total	7 (8.5%)	7 (8.5%)	32 (39.1%)	12 (14.6%)	24 (29.3%)	82 (100%)

Colégio Brasileiro de Ciências do Esporte Universidade de Brasilia - Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Faculdade de Educação Física, Asa Norte - CEP 70910-970 - Brasilia, DF - Brasil, Telefone: +55 (61) 3107-2542 - Brasília - DF - Brazil
E-mail: rbceonline@gmail.com

Acompanhe os números deste periódico no seu leitor de RSS

[1] *Corresponding author:Ana Maria Pujol Vieira dos Santos E-mail: anapujol@ulbra.br