A Preliminary Investigation: Evaluating the Effectiveness of an Occupational Specific Training Program to Improve Lower Body Strength and Speed for Law Enforcement Officers.

Ian Bonder,Tara Ruppert,Andrew Shim,Robert G Lockie

doi:10.3390/ijerph18147685

Abstract

Based on current law enforcement officer (LEO) duties, musculoskeletal injury risk is elevated due to the unpredictable nature of physically demanding tasks. The purpose of this 4-week study was to determine the effectiveness of a 15-min post-shift standardized occupational specific training program. The standardized program was designed to improve lower-body strength and speed to aid physically demanding task performance. Seven male LEOs completed the program after their 12-h shift. Subjects were required to use the department fitness center to perform the 15-min standardized program consisting of a dynamic warm-up, 4 sets of 3 repetitions on hex-bar deadlift and four 20-m sprints. Two minutes of rest was required between each set of 3 repetitions on hex-bar deadlift and 1 min of rest between each 20-m sprint. A dependent T-test was used between pre-test and post-test scores for hex-bar deadlift (HBD) and sprint. Data revealed significant improvements in relative lower-body strength with HBD (p ≤ 0.001). However, insignificant results were demonstrated with the 20-m sprint (p ≤ 0.262). In conclusion, a 15-min post-shift workout can improve lower-body strength as measured by the hex-bar deadlift. However, data indicated running speed may require a different training approach to improve the 20-m sprint.

Highlights

Present day law enforcement officers (LEOs) face an increased risk of injury due to job-related tasks of a varied, unpredictable, and highly physically demanding nature [1].Examples of job-related tasks include pushing, pulling, lifting, dragging, foot pursuits and use of physical force [2,3]
The sample size was small (N = 7), it did provide for an initial assessment of the effects of a short-term, short-duration strength and sprint training program
Larger sample sizes should be utilized in future studies analyzing the impacts of lower-body maximal relative strength training on speed development

Summary

Introduction

Present day law enforcement officers (LEOs) face an increased risk of injury due to job-related tasks of a varied, unpredictable, and highly physically demanding nature [1].Examples of job-related tasks include pushing, pulling, lifting, dragging, foot pursuits and use of physical force [2,3]. Present day law enforcement officers (LEOs) face an increased risk of injury due to job-related tasks of a varied, unpredictable, and highly physically demanding nature [1]. 6 h of a LEO 12-h shift is spent sitting in their cruiser and 40% of those 6 h in the cruiser is spent using their Mobile Data Terminal. This can cause the officers to twist and contort their bodies in uncomfortable positions for long periods of time. The possibility of sudden physical action coupled with sedentary behavior, i.e., time spent sitting in a police cruiser, puts LEOs at an increased risk of injury [8]. 40% of those musculoskeletal injuries are the result of exertional lower body musculoskeletal injuries, accounting for the observation of approximately 75% of limited duty days in LEOs [10]

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