CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE REQUIREMENT OF MULTIAXIAL TRAINING WITHIN THE MILITARY POPULATION.

Multiaxial movement is a relevant and required skill for all soldiers. A soldier in training or on operations is at times required to move through unknown scenarios and infrastructure with varying types of surfaces and terrain. The unpredictable nature of this work requires soldiers to possess a number of different cognitive and physical qualities enabling them to navigate these variables and successfully complete their tasks. Training and operational requirements are commonly complemented by external load, critical to the specific task requirements. Soldiers are therefore required to be conditioned for such tasks. For effective training to be achieved, it must be continuously examined and enhanced where possible. This article examines considerations for the requirement of a soldier's ability to move in multiaxial planes, current training practices, injury risk and mitigation, and potential performance benefits. There are many known exercises and drills that already incorporate multiaxial movement, however there is limited focus on the implementation of these exercises and drills within the Australian Defence Force (ADF) training curriculum. The exercises and drills could be tailored to be more relevant to the military population, for example including body armour, weapons, and varying terrain. Strength and power should be the focus of strength training whilst the focus of agility drills are to enhance a soldiers decision making ability (specific to movement) and for skills development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]