Associations between Fitness Measures and Change of Direction Speeds with and without Occupational Loads in Female Police Officers

Abstract

Female police officers may be required to pursue offenders on foot while wearing occupational loads. The aim of this study was to determine relationships between fitness measures and change of direction speed (CODS) in female police officers and the influence of their occupational loads. Retrospective data were provided for 27 female police officers (age = 32.19 ± 5.09 y, height = 162.78 ± 5.01 cm, and mass = 71.31 ± 13.42 kg) and included fitness measures of: lower-body power (standing long jump (SLJ)), upper-body and trunk muscle endurance (push-up (PU) and sit-up (SU)), aerobic power (estimated VO2max), and CODS (Illinois agility test). The CODS test was performed without and with occupational load (10 kg). Paired sample t-tests (between-load conditions) and Pearson’s correlations (relationships between measures) were performed with linear regression analysis used to account for the contribution of measures to unloaded and loaded CODS performance. CODS was significantly slower when loaded (unloaded = ~23.17 s, loaded = ~24.14 s, p < 0.001) with a strong, significant relationship between load conditions (r = 0.956, p < 0.001). Moderate to strong, significant relationships were found between all fitness measures ranging from estimated VO2max (r = −0.448) to SU (r = −0.673) in the unloaded condition, with the strength of these relationships increasing in the loaded condition accounting for 61% to 67% of the variance, respectively. While unloaded agility test performance was strongly associated with loaded performance, female police officer CODS was significantly reduced when carrying occupational loads. A variety of fitness measures that influence officer CODS performances become increasingly important when occupational loads are carried.

Association of Sex-Related Differences in Body Composition to Change of Direction Speed in Police Officers While Carrying Load

“…In these situations, the police officer can run at maximal to near-maximal speeds, with potential sharp turns, over various distances ranging from 5 to 350 meters (Anderson et al). Physical assessments that closely mimic this potential scenario while on duty are frequently implemented into strategies for improving the job-related physical fitness, and potential monitoring, of police officers (Strating et al, 2010;Orr et al, 2019).…”

Relationship Between Metabolic Fitness and Performance in Police Occupational Tasks

“…The potential for reduced fitness, combined with the known occupational health and safety risks faced daily by police officers [29], may increase an officer's risk of injury or illness. It has been discussed in previous reports that police officers have a higher risk of incurring a workrelated injury or illness than most other occupations [34]. Varvarigou et al [47] reviewed 4553 on-duty police fatalities between 1984 and 2010 and identified 441 cases of sudden cardiac death.…”

Perceived and Measured Physical Fitness of Police Students

“…Physical fitness is fundamentally important for the physical performance and health of police students and officers [ 7 , 44 ]. Police students with higher level of physical fitness are less likely to get injured and drop from the academy [ 4 ], and select fitness measures (e.g., sit-ups and aerobic running performance) have been positively associated with grade point average and faster graduation [ 2 ].…”

“…The measurement of physical fitness is an important part of the recruitment and training process of police officers because the job ranges from physically non-demanding (i.e., administrative work) to highly demanding (i.e., chasing, arresting the belligerent or controlling a riot) [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Therefore, next to health-related physical fitness, performance-related physical fitness is also required in certain police occupations [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]. Accordingly, future police officers (i.e., police students, cadets or trainees) typically complete a physical training program to improve their fitness level before becoming sworn officers [ 2 , 4 , 8 ].…”