| Summary: | Flowing from the traditional concept that military tasks demand a high measure of exhausting physical exertion it follows that military personnel must be physically fit. Contemporary warfare has however, changed in many ways and particularly senior personnel are forced into a sedentary lifestyle. Such persons will therefore of necessity have to participate actively in physical activities to retain a high degree of physical preparedness.
The purpose of this study was to determine the physical activity profile in the work place and after work, it was also designed to establish the maximal physical work capacity of executive officers amongst Chief of Staff Personnel in the South African Army.
The results show that the executives at Chief of Staff Personnel maintain a sedentary lifestyle at work and after hours. Only 30,8 % of the entire survey group participate in physical activities after work on a regular basis. This sedentary existence is reflected by the poor maximal oxygen consumption values which were achieved. Only five cases in the age group 30 to 39 years who participated regularly in physical activities could achieve an average V02 max value of 35,9. This must be regarded as unacceptable. This group's average V02 max value differed significantly from all the following groups; sedentary 30 to 39 years old (P<0,01); active and sedentary 40 to
44 years old (P<0,01) ; active and sedentary 50 years+ (P<0,01). Only 6 % of the total experimental group of 81 cases participated effectively in physical activities after work.
From the study it is clear that executives at the C.S.P. showed a lowered physical work capacity which can possibly be ascribed to their sedentary lifestyle. These persons can be the prey of hypokinetic diseases which in turn can harm their productivity and quality of life. Serious efforts will have to be made to improve the personnel's physical condition. === Thesis (MA (Menslike Bewegingskunde))--PU vir CHO, 1990.
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