Athletic Performance Assessment Of Swat And Patrol Police Officers Over A 12-week Training Program

Abstract

Law enforcement, especially Tactical Operations Officers (SWAT) rely on strength and power not just for performance of their job, but in some cases, in life and death situations. Sports athletes have been trained and tested to these standards but this has been lacking in law enforcement populations. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate physical performance of police officers in both SWAT (SO) and patrol officer (PO) groups before, during and after a training program focusing on strength and power development. METHODS: Eight healthy male sworn SWAT officers SO (age= 35.5 ± 7.5 yr, mass=100.0 ± 19.6 Kg, height= 184.4 ± 8.5 cm (average ± SD)) and eight PO (age= 36.1 ± 8.2 yr, mass= 91.2 ± 13.1 Kg and height= 176.4 ± 7.9 cm) were tested for anaerobic power (AP) output using the Margaria-Kalamen Test, estimated VO2max (VO), body composition (%BF), isometric leg strength (LS), and flexibility (sit and reach) prior to training, after 6 weeks and after 12 weeks of training. The training program focused on strength and explosive power in an undulating periodization format. Subjects trained four days per week with functional and traditional weight training exercises in each session. RESULTS: There were no significant differences (p>0.05) prior to training between SO and PO in age, height, total body mass, lean body mass (75.6 ± 11.4 Kg), %BF (20.0 ± 5.9%), LS (149.5 ± 34.9 Kg), VO (49.0 ± 14.0 ml/kg/min) and flexibility (47.4 ± 7.7 cm). Total body mass, flexibility and VO did not change over time. Lean body mass and LS increased over 12 weeks by 3.25% and 15.5%, respectively, in both groups (p≤0.001). %BF decreased by 13.1% over the 12 weeks in both groups (p≤0.001). AP was not different between groups prior to training (170.6 ± 27.6 Kg*m/s), though it increased by 13.5% (p≤0.001) over 12 weeks of training in the SO but not at all in the PO. CONCLUSIONS: The training program was successful in improving lean body mass, reducing percent body fat and increasing LS in both the PO and SO groups. The SO group had a greater response to training in AP compared to the PO group. The reason for this is unclear, especially considering similar starting points. One possibility is greater motivation during training and testing in the SO group.