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Physical fitness: Differences between initial hiring to academy in law enforcement recruits who graduate or separate from academy

Authors :
Robert G. Lockie
Joseph Dulla
Robin M. Orr
Jay Dawes
Source :
Work. 68:1081-1090
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
IOS Press, 2021.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Law enforcement agencies often include fitness testing as part of the hiring process. However, it can be months from this testing to when a recruit starts academy. OBJECTIVE: To determine fitness changes from hiring to academy in recruits who graduate (GRAD) or separate (SEP; do not complete) from academy. METHODS: Analysis on recruits from one agency, split into GRAD (n = 436) and SEP (n = 78) groups, was conducted. These tests were conducted during initial hiring and academy: push-ups, sit-ups, and arm ergometer revolutions in 60 s; 75-yard pursuit run (75PR); and 2.4 km run. Data were analyzed via a two-way repeated measures ANOVA. Change scores were derived between hiring and academy data for both groups, and analyzed via independent samples t-tests. RESULTS: Push-ups, 75PR, arm ergometer, and 2.4 km run generally improved (p≤0.001). There were no significant between-group interactions or differences in performance changes for GRAD and SEP recruits. SEP recruits tended to have lesser fitness test performance compared to GRAD recruits. CONCLUSIONS: GRAD and SEP recruits showed some fitness improvements between initial hiring through to academy. However, SEP recruits with lesser muscular endurance, running speed, and aerobic capacity during hiring did not substantially improve by academy, which likely impacted their academy survivability.

Details

ISSN :
18759270 and 10519815
Volume :
68
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Work
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....818f613267fe67fdaa9047362f4072a0
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3233/wor-213438