Physical Activity and Exercise Patterns of Submariners in Land and Sea Environments

Abstract

Introduction: Submarine environments pose unique challenges to maintaining physical activity and exercise routines due to confined spaces, demanding schedules, and limited resources. This study investigated submariners’ physical activity patterns, sleep quality, and perceived exercise barriers in both land- and sea-based settings, with the goal of informing targeted health interventions. Materials and Methods: Ethics approval was granted by the Defence Science and Technology Group and Edith Cowan University review panels. This cross-sectional study surveyed 21 Royal Australian Navy submariners (25-48 years; 18 male) using a modified version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Participants reported weekly engagement in general physical activity (e.g., walking, moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity) and structured exercise training (high-intensity interval training, moderate-intensity continuous training, and resistance training [RT]), as well as sitting time and sleep duration. Additional items assessed perceived barriers and motivations to exercise, time spent on land and at sea over the past 12 months (9 ± 3 and 3 ± 3 months, respectively), and their longest continuous deployment. Descriptive statistics and paired t-tests were used to compare outcomes between land and sea environments. Results: Total physical activity was lower (P