Root-Cause Analysis of Musculoskeletal Injuries at a U.S. Federal Law Enforcement Academy

Abstract

Basic training at the federal law enforcement academy studied is a 13-week, 6 days per week process that includes vigorous daily training in physical fitness and defensive tactics. Chronic, non-trauma related musculoskeletal injuries such as tendonitis and muscle strains are common and may disrupt an officer's training. For purposes of prevention, a better understanding of the root-causes of these training related injuries is needed. PURPOSE: To determine predictors of chronic injury during basic training at a federal law enforcement academy. METHODS: Archival data on 874 officer trainees, collected in 2003–04, were made available by the academy. As standard academy practice, the independent variables gender, age, height, weight, 1.5 mile run time, 1RM bench press, agility run time, body composition and sit and reach fexibility were obtained on the first day of physical training. Among the trainees, 175 (20%) reported a chronic injury during basic training. A stepwise logistic regression was used to determine relationships between the independent variables and the dependent variable of injury status (injured or not injured). RESULTS: Data analysis revealed significant (p < 0.05) odds ratios for the likelihood of the independent variables 1.5 mile run time (OR = 1.07), female gender (OR = 1.96) and age > 40 years (OR =1.50) in predicting injury. Given that run time is a continuous variable, this result means there was a 7% greater likelihood of injury with each one minute increase in the 1.5 mile run time. The dichotomous variables represent a 96% greater risk of injury in females and a 50% greater risk of injury in subjects age 40 and over. CONCLUSION: The results of the study show that only one of the fitness variables, 1.5 mile run time, was significantly related to chronic injury risk. It appears that higher levels of cardiovascular fitness prior to basic training may be important in reducing the risk of chronic injury during training. The above factor may be especially important for women trainees and those age 40 and over. Potential officers should be encouraged to improve physical fitness in the months prior to arrival at the academy. Pre-academy, post-offer of employment aerobic fitness testing based on the physical demands of training is recommended as a means to reduce chronic training related injuries.