Abstract
PurposeTo determine the relationship between metabolic fitness test scores and performance in police occupational tasks.MethodsRetrospective data from 106 law enforcement officers who completed two metabolic fitness assessments [anaerobic: a 20-m (10-m and 20-m splits) sprint, aerobic: 20 m Multi-Stage Fitness Test (20 m-MSFT)] and three routine occupational tasks [1.22 m Fence jump (FJ), 8.5 m Victim Drag (VD with 102.3 kg) and “Get-up” (GU)] were collected. A Person’s correlation coefficient and a standard multiple regression were used to assess the relationship between and predictive ability of, respectively, the fitness tests scores and performance on occupational tasks.ResultsThere was a significant positive correlation between the 10-m sprint scores and FJ (r = 0.524, P < 0.001), VD (r = 0.528, P < 0.001) and GU (r = 0.486, P < 0.001). Similarly, the 20-m sprint scores were significantly and moderately correlated with FJ (r = 0.573, P < 0.001), VD (r = 0.603, P < 0.001) and GU (r = 0.533, P < 0.001). These anaerobic tests’ scores predicted approximately 40% of the performance in the occupational tasks analysed. The MSFT fitness assessment had a small, albeit significant negative correlation with the three tasks: FJ (r = − 0.360, P < 0.001), VD (r = − 0.266, P = 0.012) and GU (r = − 0.375, P < 0.001).ConclusionHigh levels of metabolic fitness correlated with faster performance in police officer occupational tasks, particularly ones of an anaerobic nature (i.e. the maximal sprint tests). In addition to typical aerobic fitness conditioning, anaerobic fitness conditioning could be vital for optimal performance in physically demanding tasks required of police officer.
Highlights
Law enforcement officers provide service, security and protection for the population
The results of this study suggest that high levels of metabolic fitness are correlated with better performance in police officer occupational tasks, ones of anaerobic nature
Anaerobic fitness, assessed by the 10 m and 20 m sprints, was strongly associated with the performance of several police tasks. Completion of such short distances at maximal speed rely mostly on lower-limb power. This anaerobic characteristic of power is often assessed through a vertical jump (VJ) test
Summary
Law enforcement officers provide service, security and protection for the population. The demands of police duties are varied [35]. Periods of sedentarism, where clerical and administrative tasks are performed (e.g. report writing) are interrupted by periods of high intensity efforts. These include patrolling large areas, climbing or bounding over obstacles, making arrests whilst carrying up to 10 kg in additional loads and reacting to unpredictable environmental strains [2, 28, 33]. Police officers may lack the required occupational fitness to perform their duties safely and effectively [37]
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