Comparing levels of fitness of police Officers between two United States law enforcement agencies

Myers, Cory J; Orr, Rob Marc; Goad, Kiyoshi S; Schram, Ben; Lockie, Robert G.; Kornhauser, Charlie; Holmes, Ryan; Dawes, Jay

doi:10.3233/wor-192954

Cited by 29 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Muscular endurance is the muscles ability to sustain prolonged contractions that are less likely to become fatigued, and therefore can provide support over time (35) There were several limitations in this study that should be noted. Only one LEA was analyzed in this study; a variety of agencies should be investigated in future research as research suggest fitness differences exist between candidates from different agencies (34). Maximal strength and power tests were not incorporated in the fitness testing battery for this LEA.…”

Section: ***Insert Table 1 About Here***mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Sex and Age on Physical Testing Performance for Law Enforcement Agency Candidates: Implications for Academy Training

Bloodgood

Dawes

Orr

et al. 2021

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research

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100

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Law enforcement candidates are often required to complete fitness tests to assess their preparedness for training. This study investigated the influence of sex and age on candidate performance prior to academy training. Retrospective analysis of 516 candidates was performed. Data were stratified into males (n = 432) and females (n = 84) and the pooled (males and females combined) data was stratified into age groups (20-24; 24-29; 30-34; 35-39; 40+ years). The tests included: maximal push-ups and sit-ups in 60 s; 75-yard pursuit run (75PR); arm ergometer revolutions completed in 60 s; and a 2.4-km run. To compare the sex and age groups, a 2 x 5 ANOVA (with Bonferroni post hoc for multiple between-age group comparisons) was used. Males performed significantly (p < 0.001) more push-ups, sit-ups, and arm ergometer revolutions, and were faster in the 75PR and 2.4-km run. The 20-24, 25-29, and 35-39 year groups were faster in the 75PR compared to the 40+ year group; the 20-24 and 25-29 year groups were faster than the 35-39 year group; and the 20-24 year group was faster than the 30-34 year group (p ≤ 0.023). The 20-24 year group was faster than the 40+ year group in the 2.4-km run (p = 0.005). Females and older candidates may have a lower physical capacity than males and younger candidates, respectively, in certain physical assessments. Female and older candidates, in particular, may benefit from dedicated training prior to academy in order to better prepare for the demands of this period.

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Section: ***Insert Table 1 About Here***mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Sex and Age on Physical Testing Performance for Law Enforcement Agency Candidates: Implications for Academy Training

Bloodgood

Dawes

Orr

et al. 2021

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research

Self Cite

100

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Age, Height, Weight and Years of Experience: Following collection of participant informed consent, self-reported age, height, weight and years of service were obtained. Self-reported height and weight measures are commonly used in the literature for tactical populations [16,17] and have been found to be reliable [18].…”

Section: Tasks and Measuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Various Clothing Variations on Firefighter Mobility: A Pilot Study

Orr

Simas

Canetti

et al. 2019

Safety

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Firefighter clothing is known to restrict movement and increase the risk of musculoskeletal injury. The aim of this study was to investigate differences between clothing variations and firefighter mobility. Data were collected from eight firefighters using a randomized counterbalanced, repeated measures, design. Three different clothing variants (V1-V3) in addition to current station wear (S) were trialed. Combinations of S and V1 (SV1) and V2 (SV2) were also trialed. Outcome measures included: standing reach height; the Functional Movement Screen [FMS]; vertical jump; a visual analogue scale [VAS] for the FMS, vertical jump, step ups and crawl; and a mannequin sketch to mark areas of discomfort. V3 was preferred over S in all tasks and performed better both objectively (FMS and vertical jump) and subjectively (VAS scores). While V1 was typically associated with poorer performance, the impacts of V1 and V2 when compared to each other and S varied depending on the tasks performed. This variation was greater when V1 or V2 were worn with S (SV1 and SV2). Areas of discomfort across all variations was the knees, followed by the thighs. Clothing that has the least impact on, or improves, mobility (especially around the lower limbs) may help reduce firefighter injury and limit subjective discomfort.Safety 2019, 5, 78 2 of 18 while stepping over it. Conversely, in wildland firefighters, a 15 kg pack was found to significantly increase their time to negotiate escape routes during a wilderness fire forced evacuation [14].In addition to the load weights, the nature of the equipment and clothing worn by firefighters is thought to impact both their performance and injury risk. The bulkiness and rigidity of the PPE clothing worn by firefighters, for example, is known to reduce their mobility and has been considered to increase the risk of injury through increasing the potential for a slip, trip or fall [2,3,15]. SCBA and boot sizes (heights), in particular, have been associated with reducing mobility, increasing physical stress, and increasing the risk of slips, trips, and falls (3). As such, it is not surprising that the wearing of SCBA and boots are major contributors to fireground musculoskeletal injuries [3].Given that slips, trips, and falls are a common mechanism for firefighter injuries to occur, and that the PPE worn by firefighters can increase their risk of a slip, trip, or fall, research investigating the impacts of different firefighter PPE clothing variations on their mobility may be of value and provide a means of optimising clothing design and development in order to mitigate these injuries. Furthermore, as not all injuries occur while performing fire suppression tasks, the impacts of different firefighter clothing in general (e.g., daily station wear) on mobility may be of value. However, there is no known research comparing different clothing variations and firefighter mobility specifically. As such, the aim of this research was to compare the impacts on firefighter mobility of three different clothing variati...

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“…A recent systematic review involving the characterization of the physical profile among tactical populations of elite tactical units found only three studies, out of 14 included in the review, with tactical police populations, with none from Brazil [ 15 ]. Variations in task requirements have been found to exist in a single police unit [ 17 ] as well as variations in fitness standards between police units [ 18 , 19 ]. As such, identifying and profiling the tasks that specialist police from both GRR and COT units perform is of importance if their physical training practices are to be based on their specific job needs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Profile of Self-Reported Physical Tasks and Physical Training in Brazilian Special Operations Units: A Web-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Marins

Barbosa

Machado

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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There is limited research examining the physical tasks that Brazilian special policemen groups can perform in the line of duty. The aims of this study were to (a) identify the occupational tasks of specialist police personnel serving in the Rapid Response Group (GRR) and Tactical Operations Command (COT), and to profile the frequency, difficulty, and importance of these tasks, and (b) to explore the current physical training these special operations police units (SOPUs) officers undertake to maintain their operational fitness. Univariate analysis for numerical variables (mean and standard deviation (SD)), as well as the absolute and relative frequencies for categorical variables were performed. Two Brazilian SOPUs performed a questionnaire with demographic, performance, and physical training sections. A total of 78 respondents (24 of the GRR and 54 of the COT) completed the survey. “Standing and/or sitting with complete equipment for long periods in different climatic conditions”, and “lifting/pushing/pulling heavier objects” were the most frequent and difficult occupational tasks of both SOPUs, respectively. “Shooting a long weapon” and “breaking a door” were the most important for GRR and COT, respectively. All officers undertook regular physical training (~9 h/week), in an unstructured manner, without supervision, and planning of physical training is carried out autonomously (COT) or a mixture of autonomously and directed (GRR), with the main objectives of developing aerobic endurance and muscle strength. It is important that SOPUs teams train their members’ physical capabilities to perform the tasks identified in this study, as well as follow a structured, supervised, and planned physical training program.

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Comparing levels of fitness of police Officers between two United States law enforcement agencies

Cited by 29 publications

References 19 publications

Effects of Sex and Age on Physical Testing Performance for Law Enforcement Agency Candidates: Implications for Academy Training

Effects of Sex and Age on Physical Testing Performance for Law Enforcement Agency Candidates: Implications for Academy Training

Impact of Various Clothing Variations on Firefighter Mobility: A Pilot Study

Profile of Self-Reported Physical Tasks and Physical Training in Brazilian Special Operations Units: A Web-Based Cross-Sectional Study

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