Effects of Eight Weeks of NASM Exercises on Functional Tests, Pain, and Quality of Life in Khatam Al Anbia University Students

Background: Musculoskeletal injuries are highly prevalent among military students, and exercise therapy is widely used for both the prevention and rehabilitation of such injuries. This study aimed to examine the effects of selected American Sports Medicine exercises on functional performance, pain levels, and quality of life among students at Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense University.Methods: Forty male students from Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense University in Tehran (mean age: 20.1 ± 0.6 years; mean height: 184.9 ± 8.9 cm; mean weight: 72.5 ± 11.2 kg) were recruited and stratified by pain level to an experimental group (n=20) or a control group (n=20). The experimental group completed an eight-week training program consisting of selected American Sports Medicine exercises (three sessions per week, one hour per session). Functional performance, pain, and quality of life were assessed before and after the intervention using the Functional Movement Screen (FMS), the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, and the Persian version of the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. Data were analyzed using mixed-model ANOVA with a significance level of 0.05.Results: Significant time-by-group interactions were observed for functional performance, pain, and quality of life. The experimental group experienced significant improvements in functional test scores (P = 0.001), reduced pain levels (P = 0.001), and enhanced quality of life (P = 0.01) following the intervention. No significant changes were observed in the control group.Conclusion: The findings suggest that selected American Sports Medicine exercises effectively improve functional performance, reduce pain, and enhance the quality of life in military students. These exercises are therefore recommended as an evidence-based approach for promoting musculoskeletal health in military populations.