An evaluation of the significance of individual endogenous risk factors and medical and orthopaedic conditions on physical fitness in military executives.

Abstract

As part of occupational health promotion in the Bundeswehr (military services of the Federal Republic of Germany), top-ranking executives were offered a medical examination and training program. The participants were subjected to retrospective evaluation. The aim of this study was to determine to what extent risk factors for the development of internal and orthopaedic conditions are present in military executives and how these factors affect physical fitness. To collect their medical history, a total of 122 male subjects answered a questionnaire aimed at evaluating private and occupational stress factors. This process was followed by an internal and orthopaedic examination. A lactate performance test (treadmill or bicycle ergometry) was conducted. The results showed that the presence of hypertension correlates with reduced fitness. While orthopaedic conditions had no negative influence on executives' fitness, high body mass index and waist circumference, mental stress, and older age did. It is recommended that executives undergo professionally guided endurance and weight training on a regular basis in order to prevent the development of internal and orthopaedic conditions.