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Abstract: Campbell, P, Maupin, D, Lockie, RG, Dawes, JJ, Simas, V, Canetti, E, Schram, B, and Orr, R. The development of normative fitness data and analyzing the relationships between 20MSFT and 2.4-km run performance in Australian police recruits. J Strength Cond Res 38(11): 1951-1958, 2024-Aerobic fitness testing plays a significant role in the academy training of law enforcement recruits. There is a lack of normative data for law enforcement recruits and substantial interchangeability for choice of field-based aerobic tests. Therefore, this study aimed to develop normative percentile rankings for the 20-m multistage fitness tests (20MSFT) and 2.4-km run specific to law enforcement recruits; and to analyze the relationship between the 2 tests by linear regression. Data from 5 cohorts of law enforcement recruits completing 20MSFT ( n = 1,536) and 2.4-km run ( n = 1,499) testing during basic training at an Australian Police Academy were retrospectively analyzed. Percentile ranks were calculated (20th, 40th, 50th, 60th, 80th, and 99th) based on the number of shuttles completed and time (seconds) to complete the 2.4-km run. Results were split by sex and age (i.e., <20 years, 20-29 years, 30-39 years, and 40-49 years). Linear regression analyzed the relationship between the 20MSFT to the 2.4-km run (using both seconds and km·h -1 ), producing predictive equations to translate scores between the 2 assessments. These data presented the first detailed normative values by age and sex for Australian law enforcement recruits. Furthermore, the results demonstrated regression models could explain 65-74% of the variance observed ( r2 = 0.649-0.741) between 20MSFT performance and 2.4-km run performance. This study's findings allow for normative performance for the purpose of benchmarking fitness, setting performance goal, and rehabilitation from injury. In addition, a valid conversion through a linear regression affords cross-agency comparisons and temporal changes in test selection/recruit cohorts., (Copyright © 2024 National Strength and Conditioning Association.)

Abstract: Campbell, P, Maupin, D, Lockie, RG, Dawes, JJ, Simas, V, Canetti, E, Schram, B, and Orr, R. Determining the changes in law enforcement recruit aerobic fitness using the 2.4-km run and 20-m multistage fitness test. Does the type of test matter? J Strength Cond Res 38(6): 1111-1117, 2024-Aerobic fitness is linked with academy graduation, employment, and the long-term health of law enforcement officers and is often used as a training outcome. However, different tests can be used, and aerobic improvements may differ according to the test used. The aim of this study was to determine whether recruits improved to a greater extent in 1 aerobic test compared with the other. Retrospective data from 5 law enforcement recruit cohorts (males = 741; females = 353) who underwent 18 weeks of academy training were analyzed. Initial 20-m multistage fitness test (20MSFT) and 2.4-km run assessments were completed during weeks 4 and 5 of training, with final testing completed during weeks 16 and 17, respectively. A repeated-measures analysis of variance ( p < 0.05) with a Bonferroni post hoc analysis determined changes in aerobic fitness in the 20MSFT and 2.4-km run between male and female recruits. A mean difference of 9.27 (95% confidence intervals [CI] 14.8-10.9; d = 0.63; p < 0.001) shuttle increase in 20MSFT performance and 20.1 (95% CI 16.0-24.2; d = 0.49; p < 0.001) second improvement in 2.4-km run time were demonstrated when averaged across sex, yielding a larger performance improvement for the 20MSFT compared with the 2.4-km run. Conversely, there was a smaller magnitude of change in aerobic fitness between male recruits and female recruits for the 20MSFT ( d = 0.47) compared with the 2.4-km run ( d = 0.50). The findings indicate that current academy training results in improvements to aerobic fitness and to a greater magnitude in the 20MSFT compared with the 2.4-km run. These results may affect policy considerations for law enforcement agencies regarding aerobic test selection., (Copyright © 2024 National Strength and Conditioning Association.)