RICHMOND, Va. –
The purpose of this newsletter is to share significant updates, education, training and events related to all five domains of health and fitness across the Virginia Army National Guard.
Tendon & Ligament Strengthening: Is it Important? by CPT Brian Harder, PT, DPT, CSCS
When we look at the word strength, images come to mind of large muscles. But these muscles cannot do anything without being connected appropriately to the rest of the body. Tendons connect the muscle to the bone, which allows us to contract the muscle, as well as absorb impact and transfer forces. Ligaments connect bone to bone which helps stabilize joints and keep it in place. These connective tissues have elastic properties which mean they are meant to recoil and move with us as we lift and move. As we age, have jobs that keep us sitting still at a desk or even perform continuous repetitive movements like running, this this can affect the response and health of these parts. In comparison to muscle fibers, making changes to tendon and ligament health takes much longer to improve, which is why an injury to these takes much longer to heal as well. But, improving tendon and ligament strength, or stiffness, not only protects you in the long term but also can improve your efficiency with specific movements like ground contact time or cadence speed in running.
So how do we do this? Three ways that are shown specifically in evidence: eccentric training, plyometric training and isometric training.
- Eccentric training with lightly weighted resistance exercises, not just bodyweight, on a single limb working on controlling in a slow and purposeful pattern into a lengthened position. A few examples of these exercises would be Eccentric Heel Raises, Single Leg Squats and Single Leg Deadlifts.
- Plyometric training consists of quick, explosive movements that work on that recoil response between the muscle/tendon as well as stability at the joints with the ligaments as well. A word of caution: gradually introduce plyometric training especially if this is new and/or get guidance from a MFT/strength coach. A few examples of plyometric exercises are Box Jumps, Lateral Hops, Squat Jumps, and Lunge Jumps.
- Isometric training is when a muscle is held in a still position typically in the middle of the movement. This emphasizes stability and it is recommended to mix these movements in with heavy resistance and eccentric routines. A few examples of isometric exercises are Planks, Wall Sits or Calf Holds.
There are many more exercises in each of these categories that can be expanded upon. If you have questions or would like more information, reach out and we can help guide you in the right direction!
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How to Improve Your ACFT 2 Mile Run by MSG Ramon F Abreu-Perez, VAARNG H2F State Coordinator
Our intuitive thinking tells us that if we want to improve our running we should train by running as fast and as long as we can. However, this could not be more far from the truth. First, let's make sure that we understand that the 2 Mile Run is an event that challenges the aerobic system and that in order to improve we need to incorporate distances longer than two miles in order to improve. Runs between 4-6 miles could be beneficial.
Understanding Aerobic vs. Anaerobic:
- Aerobic: When we run slow or keep our effort level “easy," our bodies utilize oxygen to power our muscles to utilize fat and some glycogen as the source of fuel. This is great, because our bodies have lots of fat and by using this type of fuel our bodies have pretty much unlimited resources.
- Anaerobic: On the other hand, when we run fast or at a medium to hard intensity, we cut short our energy resources because our bodies are not able to utilize fat as the main source of fuel and instead it primarily utilizes glycogen.
So, if you want to run longer, allow for better, faster recovery, reduce your injury risk and build your aerobic capacity, slow down. Ensure 75-80 percent of your runs are done at a very easy, conversational pace. If you finish your run and you feel you could do it all over again, you have nailed your long run. Use t
his calculator to gain a better idea of what your pace should be.
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Sleep in a Tactical Environment
Sleep is critical for sustaining the mental abilities you need for success in training and on the battlefield. Even simple tasks such as communicating, driving or plotting grid coordinates can be impaired by inadequate sleep, which is anything less than 7-9 hours per every 24 hour period. Soldiers can correctly sight a target, but they might select the wrong target without adequate sleep.
Planning for sleep in training and tactical environments is a core leader competency. Leaders must know the sleep/work cycles of their Soldiers, particularly when they are working shifts, are in operational environments, or are operating outside standard duty hours. Combat operations can create situations where inadequate sleep becomes the norm. Soldiers who do not get enough sleep accumulate a sleep debt that must be paid off by getting the needed sleep. It’s mission critical to make sleep a top priority.
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Nutrition Readiness: Performance Benefits of Protein
- Builds and repairs muscles and connective tissue
- Builds red blood cells
- Builds hormones and enzymes
- Is a back-up source of energy
Protein is essential for performance. When you are physically active, you work your muscles and connective tissues. You need protein to build and repair injuries to those tissues. In addition, when you run out of carbohydrate stores, your body burns protein for energy. Those who are physically active need more protein than those who are more sedentary. As mentioned before, protein is a backup energy source, but do not rely on protein for energy. When you burn protein, it is because you are low on carbohydrates. Too few carbohydrates and calories cause you to burn valuable lean tissue, which weakens your muscles and can decrease overall strength.
How much protein do you need?
The Recommended Dietary Allowance, or RDA, for protein is 0.36 grams per pound body weight. Highly active individuals may need 1.5–2 times the RDA to repair tissues and build the muscle strength and size required for top performance. This does not necessarily mean that when you are in training you need to eat twice the amount of protein than you do when you are not in training. Most people eat this amount and more without even trying.
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Mental Readiness by CPT Stephanie Malozzi, PhD, Chief of Behavioral Health VaARNG MEDCOM
Autumn is a season many of us look forward to. Cooler weather, beautiful scenery, new hunting and sports seasons, holidays, and many of our Virginia Army National Guard family returning from various tours of duty this year. This season also presents an opportunity to begin to reflect on the year and fine-tune our mental readiness before spring arrives. Options to ensure you are mentally fit may include self-care, use of support systems, or linking up with a professional resource such as a counselor, chaplain, H2F or MRT asset, or other medical providers. Below are a few prompts for self-reflection from the Holistic Health and Fitness Team to improve your mental readiness.
- What were the highlights and lowlights over the past year?
- How can I get the process of closure and setting new goals started before 2023?
- When can I prepare myself and cope ahead for the future?
- Who can I reach out to? Who might need me to reach out to them?
- Where can I turn, or direct a fellow Soldier, in times of need for support?
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ACFT Updates: If you are an OIC/NCOIC for your unit’s next ACFT the following sites will provide the latest and most accurate information about the test: