BIOMECHANICAL AND PHYSICAL PROFILE COMPARISON IN MILITARIES WITH AND WITHOUT MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURIES: A PRELIMINARY STUDY

This study compared limb strength, body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness and vertical jump performance in military staff with and without prior musculoskeletal injures. Thirty male military personnel enrolled in a physical education undergraduate program participated in this study. A survey covering history of the last two years of musculoskeletal lower limb injuries was sent to participants, who were separated into groups: injured (IG; n=16) and uninjured (NIG; n=14). Participants performed a sit and reach flexibility test, body composition, 12-min Cooper running test, vertical jump performance and back squat in a smith machine on five different days. Participants from the IG presented reduced strength and vertical jump performance compared to the NIG. No differences were observed in body composition, or cardiorespiratory fitness between groups