Study of VO2max and body composition in trained soldiers of the army special operations unit

Abstract

The objective of this article was to establish comparisons between different special operations units of the army. 91 male subjects (mean ± Standard deviation; age: 33.05 ± 3.28 years; height: 1.77 ± 1.37 m; body weight 79.02 ± 1.59 kg), divided into 4 groups (mountain, diving, UEO and mobility), were evaluated through body composition and stress tests. A bioimpedance test was carried out to determine the different tissues and an incremental treadmill stress test with a gas analyser to establish the different physiological parameters. The results showed significant differences in terms of heart rate (HR) in the different thresholds (ventilatory threshold 1, ventilatory threshold 2 and maximum oxygen consumption) and in the speed reached in these (p < .05). On the other hand, with respect to body composition (muscle mass weight, % fat mass and fat weight), no significant differences were observed between the different groups analysed (p > .05).