An ongoing issue within the physical fitness confines of the US military is that of ensuring all members are combat-ready.
The construct of this idea, solely pertaining to the US Air Force (USAF) is that Airmen should be able to perform the basics of push-ups, sit-ups, and a 1.5 mile. Looking at the three constructs stated, the 1.5 mile seems to be the hardest one for most members to complete.
Some members who would be deemed as physically fit struggle to maintain the aerobic knack for passing the physical fitness test (PFT). But would these failures or near misses be in place of poor training when it comes to the cardiovascular system, or could it potentially be another element not concerned by the USAF…the member’s gait? By eliminating their questioned aerobic prowess and focusing on other factors that could affect a passing score, such as the individual’s gait, Airmen are opened to another route to help assist in maintaining USAF standards of fitness.
Gait analysis simply put is a “systematic examination of how a person walks” (Whittle, 1993). Identifying how an individual walks and or runs start to shed light on any biomechanical factors that may contribute to inefficient usage of energy or kinetic chain. One method that can help deliver this information comes in the form of technology. Two particular innovations are indicators in the individual’s shoes and video analysis.
Air Force Run Component
With the US Air Force constantly looking to keep its members in top physical condition, regulations in the form of the Air Force Manual 36-2905 (AFMAN 36-2905) were established.
In this publication, a detailed explanation of how to perform and why performing the fitness components specified are so important, “The goal of the Physical Fitness Program (PFP) is to motivate all Airmen to participate in a year-round physical conditioning program that emphasizes total fitness, to include proper aerobic conditioning, muscular fitness training, and healthy eating” (Force, 2020).
Though the PFT is broken up into three sections, it is further dissected to accommodate those in different age brackets. Below is an outline for males age <30.
(Force, Fitness Assessment Charts, 2020)
Gait Analysis
To revisit what gait analysis is, (Edwards, 2021) states that the running gait is a cycle in which the leg travels within one step while running; the swing and stance. Swing refers to the time the foot is in the air, while the stance is the amount of time the foot remains on the ground (Academy, 2018).
Putting the two terms into action, we are left with what is called stride (gait cycle). The stance phase (foot contact with the ground) contributes to about 60% of the cycle in a “normal” gait, while the swing phase (foot not making contact with the ground) makes up the remaining percentage (Di Gregorio & Vocenas, 2021).
This information provides enough to allow individuals to understand how long they remain on the ground as well as the distance of their stride (information more important to those who have a poor runtime due to taking short steps).
(Clinic, n.d.)
Shoe & Video Technology
Delving into the world of technology associated with fitness can give a better understanding of an individual’s gait, “feedback can vary from representing the run to assisting runners in their movements” (Jensen & Mueller, n.d.).
Two ways to gather such information would be to place sensory technology onto the individual or utilize video-based assessments. To enhance the accuracy of what is gleaned, using both products can and should be paired. Nagano & Begg (2018) provide research consisting of insoles placed into the shoes of the subjects, which house an interface that allows for changing the angle of the ankle, better surface contact through custom moldings, reduction in shock absorption, changing sole texture, support of the heel and incorporating pressure & inertial sensors.
This technology will give feedback in either real-time or delayed viewing to the researcher and participant. Studying how the individual pushes off during contact with the ground, how hard they land, the number of steps they take, and even air time will be translated into something workable.
Another upside to gaining this information is that, during the “offseason” of the PFT, the member can continue practicing what was learning, breaking bad habits for future assessments. By way of video analysis, Airmen can slow down the movements, break them apart and see an “up-close” view of what their body is doing. (Simoni, et al., 2021) explain, “running gait analysis allows the early identification and the longitudinal monitoring of gait abnormalities linked to running-related injuries”.
The valuations noted during review, when placed alongside the insole technology, can provide valuable information in further corrections of the member’s gait.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Air Force places heavy emphasis on its Airmens’ aerobic valor. You can see this by how meticulously experts have crafted together the physical fitness test. In all aspects of aerobic fitness, one aspect is usually overlooked when a member fails or barely passes, and that is the gait. Identifying errors with technology such as insoles fitted with sensors or videos allowing for step-by-step processing of the kinetic events taking place during the run, will no doubt increase run times and lessen the number of failures associated with gait.
