Research Review: The Impact of Military Applied Sports on Cardiorespiratory Function

By Jackson Mann

BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front)

Cadets who participated in military-applied sports (MAS), such as the military pentathlon, demonstrated significantly better cardiorespiratory function than those who engaged in general physical training programs. These improvements were evident both at rest and during physical exertion. MAS-trained cadets exhibited more efficient oxygen consumption, better heart rate regulation, and faster post-exercise recovery.

Purpose of the Study

The study aimed to evaluate and compare cardiorespiratory responses in cadets engaged in two different physical training programs: a military-applied sports program and a traditional general physical fitness curriculum. The goal was to determine which approach more effectively develops functional capacities essential to combat readiness. By measuring key physiological indicators at rest, during increasing levels of physical load, and throughout recovery, the researchers sought to understand how these two training models impact performance and adaptation.

Methods

The study involved 81 healthy cadets from Ukrainian military institutions, split into two groups: CG1 (n=41), who trained in military-applied sports such as military pentathlon, orienteering, and aeronautical pentathlon; and CG2 (n=40), who followed a general fitness regimen including gymnastics, athletics, obstacle courses, and hand-to-hand combat. While the exact structure and intensity of CG2’s general fitness curriculum were not detailed beyond its listed components, it appeared to mirror a broad-based physical education model rather than a specialized sport protocol. The MAS participants were not described as members of formally recruited sport teams; rather, their participation likely reflects an intramural or club-based team structure common in military training institutions. Both groups followed similar training volumes: two one-hour sessions on weekdays and three-hour sessions on weekends.

Cardiorespiratory performance was assessed using a standardized cycling ergometer test escalating to a workload of 180 watts over 18 minutes. Measurements included respiratory rate (RR), minute ventilation (Vc), oxygen consumption (VO₂), carbon dioxide production (VCO₂), heart rate (HR), blood pressure (SBP/DBP), pulse pressure (PP), and ventilatory equivalents. Data were collected at rest, during exertion, and across a 7-minute recovery period. Statistical analysis was conducted using Student’s t-test, with p<0.05 considered significant.

Key Findings

At rest, cadets in the MAS group (CG1) showed significantly better VO₂ values and more efficient oxygen utilization compared to their peers in the general fitness group (CG2). While differences in heart rate and blood pressure at rest were not statistically significant, trends still favored the MAS-trained cadets.

After six minutes of exertion, CG1 cadets demonstrated significantly lower heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen demand, reflecting better cardiovascular efficiency. Their oxygen consumption per kilogram of body weight and pulse pressure were also notably improved. These differences became more pronounced at maximum load (the 18-minute mark at 180 watts), with CG1 cadets showing lower HR and SBP and higher oxygen uptake efficiency, indicating more robust aerobic capacity and delayed fatigue.

During recovery, CG1 cadets recovered faster in heart rate, oxygen consumption, and carbon dioxide output—especially at the 1st and 3rd minutes post-exercise. Although by the 7th minute post-load most metrics had equalized, the MAS group consistently showed quicker normalization across recovery markers. Notably, CG2 cadets’ cardiorespiratory profiles suggested they reached near-maximal exertion thresholds at the 18-minute mark, whereas CG1 cadets remained more physiologically stable.

Interpretation & Significance

Cadets who trained in military-applied sports showed more favorable cardiorespiratory responses both during and after exertion. Lower HR, SBP, and RR under load, coupled with higher VO₂/kg, indicate superior aerobic capacity, efficient energy use, and greater physiological resilience. These adaptations suggest that MAS offers a more relevant conditioning framework for combat performance, particularly in terms of rapid recovery, endurance, and sustained output under stress.

Limitations

This study presents several limitations that should be considered when interpreting the results. First, it was cross-sectional in nature and focused solely on short-term physiological responses, without assessing long-term outcomes such as injury incidence, training retention, or psychological readiness. Additionally, the study population consisted exclusively of male cadets from Ukrainian military institutions, which limits the generalizability of the findings to other countries, military branches, or mixed-gender populations. While training volume was equal between the two groups, the intensity, modality specificity, and progression of training were not standardized, introducing potential variability in training effects that may have influenced the outcomes.

Conclusions

This study supports integrating military-applied sports into cadet training programs to promote combat-relevant fitness. MAS-trained cadets demonstrated higher physiological efficiency and recovery capacity under load, underscoring the model’s value in military conditioning. As physical demands in modern military operations increase, conditioning paradigms that emphasize task specificity and adaptive recovery, such as MAS, may better prepare personnel for operational stress and fatigue.

Sources

1. Tychyna, I., Romanchuk, S., Oderov, A., et al. (2024). Impact of military-applied sports on cardiorespiratory indicators of cadets in military higher education institutions. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 24(2), 338–345. https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2024.02040