Monitoring Neuromuscular Performance in Military Personnel

Justin J. Merrigan, Jason D. Stone, Andrew G. Thompson, W. Guy Hornsby and Joshua A. Hagen
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Justin J. Merrigan: Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
Jason D. Stone: Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
Andrew G. Thompson: Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
W. Guy Hornsby: Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
Joshua A. Hagen: Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 23, 1-26

Abstract: A necessarily high standard for physical readiness in tactical environments is often accompanied by high incidences of injury due to overaccumulations of neuromuscular fatigue (NMF). To account for instances of overtraining stimulated by NMF, close monitoring of neuromuscular performance is warranted. Previously validated tests, such as the countermovement jump, are useful means for monitoring performance adaptations, resiliency to fatigue, and risk for injury. Performing such tests on force plates provides an understanding of the movement strategy used to obtain the resulting outcome (e.g., jump height). Further, force plates afford numerous objective tests that are valid and reliable for monitoring upper and lower extremity muscular strength and power (thus sensitive to NMF) with less fatiguing and safer methods than traditional one-repetition maximum assessments. Force plates provide numerous software and testing application options that can be applied to military’s training but, to be effective, requires the practitioners to have sufficient knowledge of their functions. Therefore, this review aims to explain the functions of force plate testing as well as current best practices for utilizing force plates in military settings and disseminate protocols for valid and reliable testing to collect key variables that translate to physical performance capacities.

Keywords: military personnel; force plates; neuromuscular fatigue; countermovement jump; drop jump; isometric-mid-thigh pull; squat jump; tactical athletes; soldiers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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