Lead author:
Peter Ladlow
Co-authors:
NJ Ripley, DV Cabarkapa, D Cabarkapa, DW Chapman, MC Geneau, G Haff , LP James, P Jones, JP Lake, CJ Sole, A Turner, M D Vecchis, N Masters, C Coussens , R Holton, RJ Coppack, C Suffield, P Comfort.
Physically arduous military training courses impose substantial physiological and musculoskeletal demands, with course failure commonly attributable to injury, voluntary withdrawal or failure to meet required performance standards. Conventional field-based assessments provide valuable measures of physical performance but offer limited insight into the neuromuscular characteristics underpinning performance. Force plate assessment may complement existing screening by quantifying the magnitude, timing and strategy of force production. However, substantial heterogeneity exists in military force plate testing and metric selection. This study therefore aimed to identify an expert-informed minimum set of force plate tests and metrics to characterise neuromuscular performance before personnel undertake physically arduous military training courses.
Strength and Conditioning Research Lead for UK Defence Rehabilitation based with the Academic Department of Military Rehabilitation (ADMR) at the UK Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) Stanford Hall. Primary research involves integrating the principles of S&C into to inform physical preparation, injury mitigation and rehabilitation practice. UKSCA accredited since 2011.
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=6HyttjMAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
Jason Lake is a Professor in Strength and Conditioning Biomechanics at the University of Chichester, as well as an Adjunct Professor at Edith Cowan University. He has studied the mechanical demands of resistance exercise and vertical jumping for over 20 years.
Anthony is a Professor of Strength and Conditioning and the Research Degrees Coordinator at the London Sport Institute, Middlesex University.
Member of the Royal Army Physical Training Corps (RAPTC), currently working as Physical Training Instructor / Exercise Rehabilitation Instructor alongside highly trained personnel within the British army. Previous postings have been instructing and coaching personnel in preparation for All Arms Pre-Parachute Selection and other Arduous/Specialist Courses.
A former soldier, now Officer in the Royal Army Physical Training Corps (RAPTC) with over 30 years of experience as an ERI and PTI, he has led the delivery of military S&C across Initial Training and the Field Army, enhancing soldier readiness, resilience, and operational performance. An accredited UKSCA coach and Associate Lecturer at Buckinghamshire New University.
Paul is Professor of Strength and Conditioning at the University of Salford and adjunct professor at Edith Cowan University. Paul is a founder member and accredited member of the UKSCA. He is also a fellow of the NSCA and was an NSCA board member from 2020-2023. The NSCA also honored Paul with the William J Kraemer Outstanding Sports Scientist award for 2025. Professor Comfort is also a master international strength and conditioning practitioner (mISCP) through the IUSCA. He regularly consults with numerous team sports in the UK and USA. Paul has published >200 peer reviewed journal articles and has edited numerous books. Paul is currently working on research projects with NASA and the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre in the UK.
