What should a tactical athlete enhance to improve load carriage performance?

To enhance load carriage performance, it is crucial for a tactical athlete to focus on increasing lean body mass (LBM). This improvement directly correlates with a greater ability to carry loads effectively. A higher amount of lean muscle mass improves overall strength, allowing the athlete to handle heavier weights during load carriage tasks. With increased muscle mass, the tactical athlete can generate more force, which is essential for both strength and endurance during activities that involve carrying loads over distances.

While factors like VO2 max, mobility, and training intensity play roles in overall athletic performance, they do not specifically target the enhancements necessary for load carriage effectiveness as directly as increasing LBM does. VO2 max is more associated with aerobic capacity, which is important for endurance but does not necessarily provide the required strength to support heavier loads. Improving shoulder and hip mobility can aid in movement efficiency and joint range of motion but does not specifically build the muscle necessary for carrying loads. Similarly, increasing training intensity can enhance performance, but without the foundational strength that comes from a higher lean body mass, the athlete may not maximize their load carriage effectiveness.

Focusing on increasing LBM thus targets the critical elements needed for performance under load, ensuring that tactical athletes are better equipped for their demands.