Developing a base for Load Carriage

The Importance of Building a Foundation of Strength and Aerobic Capacity for Load Carriage in the Military

Carrying weight is a fundamental component of military operations, and in turn is required for all arduous military courses. British military personnel are often required to carry loads exceeding 30–40 kg over varied terrain and environmental conditions. In order to reduce the risk of injury and optimise performance it is essential to build a strong foundation of strength and aerobic capacity.

Carrying a heavy bergen places significant strain on the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems. The spine, lower limbs, and supporting musculature are under constant stress, while the heart and lungs must work harder to deliver oxygen to working muscles. 

When you have a strong foundation of strength and aerobic capacity, the body becomes better equipped to handle this stress. Soldiers with higher levels of general physical preparedness are more resilient, recover faster, and perform more efficiently under load.

The Role of Strength

Strength is foundational as it underpins the body’s ability to generate force, stabilise joints, and absorb impact. All of which are critical during load carriage. 

Strength helps with:

• Improved load distribution and posture, reducing musculoskeletal strain.
  
  

• Movement efficiency.
  
  

• Lower incidence of overuse injuries, such as stress fractures, tendonitis, and lower back pain.
  
  

Without a solid strength foundation, load carriage becomes biomechanically inefficient, increasing the risk of compensatory movement patterns and in turn risk of injury.

Aerobic Capacity: The Engine Behind Endurance

Aerobic capacity refers to the body’s ability to take in, transport, and utilise oxygen during prolonged activity. Essentially your engine and it determines your ability to perform prolonged activity. Various studies on load carriage in soldiers have shown aerobic capacity to be a key performance indicator of a soldiers ability to carry weight effectively.

Even when tasks appear anaerobic or strength dominant, aerobic capacity acts as the foundation for energy system recovery and resilience.

Injury Prevention

The relationship between strength and injury risk is well-documented across both military and civilian populations. Research consistently shows that individuals with higher baseline strength and aerobic capacity experience fewer training and operational injuries. 

Conclusion

Building a foundation of strength and aerobic capacity allows soldiers to start carrying weight with a strong base, which will increase performance and reduce the risk of injury. In addition, having a strong foundation is a launch pad to develop specific performance to excel in career courses.