Dr. Zachary Zeigler, exercise science professor in the College of Natural Sciences, presented two studies at the recent annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine Meeting in Atlanta.
The first study investigated how different recovery positions affect cardiovascular responses after exercise. The study included 10 healthy adults whose blood pressure, heart rate, stroke volume and systemic vascular resistance were measured continuously for 60 minutes after exercise. Standing recovery produced the greatest heart rate increase versus when a subject is supine, or lying face upward.
The study’s conclusion: “Recovery posture significantly influences post-exercise cardiovascular responses through gravitational effects on blood distribution. Standing recovery attenuates hypotensive benefits due to orthostatic stress, while supine recovery optimizes acute blood pressure reduction."
The second study compared the performance of Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets to active-duty soldiers on the Army Combat Fitness Test, which evaluates U.S. Army personnel’s physical and combat readiness. The retrospective analysis compares performance on the fitness test, body composition, maximal aerobic capacity, and the eating habits of 42 male active-duty soldiers and 53 male ROTC cadets.
The findings highlight the importance of lean body mass in predicting physical performance and suggest that active-duty soldiers’ extended training duration contributes to higher maximal aerobic capacity levels. Despite minor differences in physical and nutritional profiles, both groups achieved comparable results on the fitness test.
Future research, Zeigler said, should explore interventions targeting lean body mass and maximal aerobic capacity to optimize military readiness
