Army Physical Fitness at 6:30am,
There’s Got to be a Better Way Since the day I joined the military and began basic combat training, I have always questioned why we do physical training (PT) that early in the morning. Even as a trainee searching for the answer, my Drill Sergeants would simply say shut up and do push-up. Being a multisport athlete, I had a base understanding of what exercise and fitness should look like. Let me say Army PT was not what it looked like. Things like static stretching before rigorous exercise, exercises meant to break you rather than build your strength, and runs across terrain not suitable to traverse without ankle or knee support. While most of this was corrected ten years later, we still do PT at 6:30am as a generally accepted norm. With the health issues associated with physical exertion shortly after waking up, I just know there’s got to be a better way. There are countless studies out giving varying results …show more content…
There is this thing called circadian rhythm. Your circadian rhythm is basically a 24-hour internal clock that is running in the background of your brain and cycles between sleepiness and alertness at regular intervals. Its usually referred to as your Sleep/Wake cycle. (cite here) Because of the military’s work schedule which can become very abnormal for lack of better words, a constant remains which is early morning PT. This does not bring to mention those on 24-hour duty frequently or those that work nightshifts. Needless to say, in the military there are plethora of reasons our internal clock can be discombobulated. When sleep deprived the circadian rhythm is responsible for the large dips in energy. One happens commonly while most are sleep between 2:00am-4:00am but the one most soldiers experience is between 1:00pm-3:00pm we commonly refer to it as the ITIS [sic]. So afternoon exercise can improve our malfunctioning circadian rhythm, I’m all for
There’s Got to be a Better Way Since the day I joined the military and began basic combat training, I have always questioned why we do physical training (PT) that early in the morning. Even as a trainee searching for the answer, my Drill Sergeants would simply say shut up and do push-up. Being a multisport athlete, I had a base understanding of what exercise and fitness should look like. Let me say Army PT was not what it looked like. Things like static stretching before rigorous exercise, exercises meant to break you rather than build your strength, and runs across terrain not suitable to traverse without ankle or knee support. While most of this was corrected ten years later, we still do PT at 6:30am as a generally accepted norm. With the health issues associated with physical exertion shortly after waking up, I just know there’s got to be a better way. There are countless studies out giving varying results …show more content…
There is this thing called circadian rhythm. Your circadian rhythm is basically a 24-hour internal clock that is running in the background of your brain and cycles between sleepiness and alertness at regular intervals. Its usually referred to as your Sleep/Wake cycle. (cite here) Because of the military’s work schedule which can become very abnormal for lack of better words, a constant remains which is early morning PT. This does not bring to mention those on 24-hour duty frequently or those that work nightshifts. Needless to say, in the military there are plethora of reasons our internal clock can be discombobulated. When sleep deprived the circadian rhythm is responsible for the large dips in energy. One happens commonly while most are sleep between 2:00am-4:00am but the one most soldiers experience is between 1:00pm-3:00pm we commonly refer to it as the ITIS [sic]. So afternoon exercise can improve our malfunctioning circadian rhythm, I’m all for