Sprain and strain (S/S) injury data were collected from 1,169 male recruits receiving 8-week Navy basic training at the Recruit Training Command, San Diego, California. Subjects were randomly assigned to either the standard aerobic/calisthenic (A/CAL) program (N = 722) or a circuit weight training regimen performed in conjunction with the standard running programs (N = 447). A/CAL training consisted of approximately 10 minutes of flexibility and calisthenic exercises followed by an endurance run. Aerobic/circuit weight training (A/CWT) members performed two circuits (1 circuit = 15 exercises) on a multi-station gym following a 15 second work/15-second rest cycle also followed by a run. Both groups exercised on alternate days three times per week. Findings show a significantly (Chi2 = 13.3, p <= 0.05) lower total number of injuries on the part of A/CWT trainees. A reduced (Chi2 = 12.8, p <= 0.05) number of injuries of the ankle/foot region seem to account for this finding. A/CWT also produced significantly (Chi2 = 44.5, p <= 0.05) fewer no march/no physical training (NM/NPT) days than A/CAL training with days lost from ankle/foot injuries again accounting for the difference between groups (Chi2 = 41.4, p <= 0.05). It can be concluded that the addition of circuit weight training to the standard Navy recruit running program had a significant effect on the overall incidence of SIS injuries. Strengthening programs of this sort may be helpful in conditioning recruits for running induced orthopedic stress.

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