008 - Self-Efficacy, Fitness & Injury Risk: Who Breaks & Who Thrives in Military Training?
(1) Confidence Matters—But Aerobic Fitness is the Game-Changer
Cadets who doubted themselves (≤7/10 confidence) got injured more often and earlier.
Slower 2-mile run times were the strongest predictor of injury risk—every extra minute = 30% higher risk of MSK-I.
Injury-prone areas? Knees, ankles, and lumbar spine took the most damage, mainly from running and ruck marching.
(2) Stronger Core & Muscular Endurance = Lower Injury Risk
Poor push-up and plank performance correlated with more injuries.
Females had higher injury rates, but this was linked to fitness disparities—not biological differences.
Past injuries weren’t a strong predictor of new ones, challenging assumptions about recurrence risks.
Tactical Fixes: Train Smarter, Build Tougher Soldiers
(I) Prioritize Aerobic Fitness as the #1 Injury Prevention Strategy
Use interval and endurance training to improve 2-mile run performance.
Progressive, ability-based training ensures steady adaptation without overload.
Frequent assessments flag at-risk personnel early, before injuries happen.
(II) Build Tactical Strength & Core Endurance
Daily conditioning should include planks, push-ups, and job-specific strength work.
Progressive overload to increase muscular endurance and injury resilience.
Fatigue-related injuries can be reduced with structured load management.
(III) Train Confidence, Not Just Fitness
Task-specific scenarios (ruck marches, obstacles, and land nav) build self-efficacy.
Goal-setting programs improve confidence under physical and mental stress.
Reinforce readiness through positive feedback and structured progress tracking.
Thick Necks, Strong Bodies, No Weak Links
A fit soldier who lacks confidence is a liability.
A mentally strong soldier with poor endurance is a ticking time bomb.
A fully prepared soldier is built through smart training, not just survival of the fittest.
A thick neck and weak lungs won’t get you far in combat.
Build full-body resilience.
Stay Thick.
Kreisel BR, Scott KM, Florkiewicz EM, et al. The Relationship Between Self-Efficacy, Aerobic Fitness, and Traditional Risk Factors for Musculoskeletal Injuries in Military Training: A Prospective Cohort Study. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2025;20(1):56-70. Published 2025 Jan 2. doi:10.26603/001c.127137