Correlates of physical fitness improvement among a Navy remedial exercise sample

This study investigated influences on physical fitness improvement among Navy remedial exercise program participants. Subjects were 27 Navy personnel who had failed to pass the body composition, aerobic fitness, or curl-up portion of the semiannual physical readiness test. The remedial exercise program consisted of three 1-hour exercise sessions per week for 16 weeks, with primary emphasis on running and walking. To determine influences on physical fitness improvement, physical readiness test and self-report survey data were collected and analyzed through bivariate Pearson correlation. No correlations were found between any of the study variables and weight change. Initial body fat was positively correlated (r = 0.470, p < 0.05), whereas initial body weight (r = -0.490, p < 0.05) and perceptions of exercise leadership (r = -0.690, p < 0.05) were negatively correlated with reductions in body fat. Positive correlates of improvements in 1.5-mile run time were initial run failure (r = 0.637, p < 0.01), perceived exercise benefits (r = 0.574, p < 0.01), and perceptions of social support (r = 0.543, p < 0.05). Exercise mode (walking group) was negatively correlated (r = -0.445, p < 0.05) with improvements in run time. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that various personal, program, and environmental factors influence improvements in physical fitness status.