Effects of agility training on body control, change of direction speed and injury attrition rates in Dutch recruits: A pilot study

Background: Injury prevention contributes to the improvement of basic military training graduation rates. Purpose: To obtain an estimated effect of agility training (AT) on body control, change of direction speed (CODS), and attrition due to injuries in Dutch recruits. Methods: Cluster randomised pilot study including 64 recruits undergoing 23 weeks initial military training with the Air Manoeuvre Brigade. Recruits performed the T test and Illinois Agility Test (IAT) pre- and post-intervention (week 6 and week 19) to evaluate body control and CODS. After 23 weeks we evaluated injury attrition rates. Results: Recruits in the AT group had on average 0.17 seconds faster T test times than recruits in the control groups (CG) (95% CI:-0.48 to 0.13); and on average 0.14 seconds faster IAT-times (95% CI:-0.40 to 0.12), adjusted for baseline scores. Relative risk (RR) of attrition due to injuries in the first six weeks was 1.81 (95% CI 0.32 to 10.11, p=0.65), while that from week 6-23 was 0.32 (95% CI 0.12 to 0.85, p=0.018). Conclusion: This pilot study provides preliminary evidence that AT may help retain body control and CODS and may reduce attrition due to injuries.