Allied Health Faculty Publications

Possible New Modalities for the Navy Physical Readiness Test

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-2012

Journal Title

Military Medicine

ISSN

0026-4075

Volume

177

Issue

11

First Page

1417

Last Page

1425

DOI

10.7205/MILMED-D-12-00127

Abstract

The current U.S. Navy Physical Readiness Test (PRT) measures aerobic fitness and muscular endurance via a 1 1/2 mile run and curl-up/push-up tests, respectively. Nine new modalities were recommended to either replace or supplement the current PRT. Personnel and civilians (N = 179) were recruited from a local Navy base and participated in all modalities (duplicate if possible) over 4 weeks following familiarization sessions. Subjects performed single-leg plank, single-leg wall squat, cadence push-ups, leg/hip dynamometer, standing long jump, and pro-agility test. Cardiovascular modalities were also performed via the 300-yard shuttle, 2-km row, and 5-km bike. Performance in the modalities was correlated to the subjects' existing PRT scores as well as within the new modalities. Although most modalities could not be concretely recommended, the plank and wall squat were eliminated from consideration because of poor reliability scores. The strongest correlation existed between the standing long jump and pro-agility test for the entire sample. Correlation scores were also analyzed by gender. The cardiovascular modalities did not have strong enough scores to elicit a recommendation to replace the 1 Vi mile run, but future considerations for similar testing would be to collect scores for the existing modalities in addition to the proposed modalities.

Keywords

Physical fitness testing, health of military personnel, military medicine

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