Comparison of physical fitness and physiological indexes of male soldiers at different altitudes

To investigate the differences in physical fitness and physiological indexes of male soldiers stationed at different altitudes and to analyze the determinants of physical fitness of these soldiers.

A total of 13648 male soldiers at different altitudes were included, whose results of annual military physical assessment and physiological indexes in 2023 were collected and comparatively analyzed.

The 3000-meter running performance,30-meter × 2 serpentine running performance and resting blood oxygen saturation of high-altitude soldiers gradually declined with the increase of altitudes. The pull-up performance dropped significantly when the altitude > 2000 m. Soldiers ≥30 years old demonstrated a marked decline in physical fitness across different training programs. Moderate altitude acclimatization was conduciveto the recovery of physical fitness of soldiers, while exposure to high-altitude environment ≥5 years led to overall deterioration.

The high-altitude environment significantly impacts the aerobic endurance, speed, agility, and strength of soldiers. Altitude ≥4000 m, age ≥30 years, and prolonged exposure ≥5 years may contribute to the decline in physical fitness of soldiers.