"...less sitting time...was associated with less fatigue."

Mil Med. 2013 Dec;178(12):1358-64. doi: 10.7205/MILMED-D-13-00186.

Association among functional-movement ability, fatigue, sedentary time, and fitness in 40 years and older active duty military personnel.

Kennedy-Armbruster C, Evans EM, Sexauer L, Peterson J, Wyatt W.

Author information

• Department of Kinesiology, School of Public Health, Indiana University, 1025 E. 7th St., Bloomington, IN 47405.

Abstract

Identifying potential modifiable determinants of functional movement ability and fatigue may inform efforts to maintain constant physical readiness, especially in active duty military over 40 years of age, who are largely sedentary throughout their work day. The primary aim of this study was to determine the associations among conventional fitness measures (body composition, flexibility, and strength), sedentary behavior (sitting time), functional movement ability, and fatigue in military personnel. Volunteer active duty personnel 40 years of age and older (n = 569 males; n = 121 females; mean ± SD for total sample = 44.5 ± 4.1 years) were assessed for adiposity (%Fat), strength, flexibility, self-reported sitting time, perceived fatigue using the fatigue severity scale, and functional movement ability using the functional movement screening criteria. Greater flexibility was associated with better functional movement screening scores (r = 0.34, p < 0.05), and waist circumference and %Fat were inversely related to function (r = -0.26 and -0.21, p < 0.05). Furthermore, less sitting time (p < 0.001) was associated with less fatigue. Our data suggest that exercise training, reductions in daily sitting time, and weight management may be viable intervention targets to enhance functional movement ability and reduce fatigue in 40+ year old active duty military personnel.