IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v17y2020i18p6782-d415138.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Physical Fitness Effects of a Week-Long Specialist Tactical Police Selection Course

Author

Listed:
  • Ben Schram

    (Faculty of Health Science and Medicine, Bond University, Robina 4226, Australia
    Tactical Research Unit, Bond University, Robina 4226, Australia)

  • Jeremy Robinson

    (Specialist Response Group—Tactical Response Team, Australian Federal Police, Canberra 2601, Australia)

  • Robin Orr

    (Faculty of Health Science and Medicine, Bond University, Robina 4226, Australia
    Tactical Research Unit, Bond University, Robina 4226, Australia)

Abstract

Specialist police tactical teams, like special operations military personnel, are tasked with dangerous, high risk missions which are beyond the scope of general police. Consequently, the selection courses for entry into these teams are physiologically and psychologically demanding. The purpose of this study was to examine the physiological effects of a five-day selection course to aid in candidate preparation and course planning. Measures included body mass, grip strength, sit-and-reach flexibility, and a vertical jump assessment. Eleven candidates finished the selection course with significant decreases in body mass (−2.05 kg, p = 0.006 (95% CI = 3.65–0.45)), grip strength in the right (−14.48 kg, p < 0.001 (95% CI = 21.32–7.64)) and left (−14.27 kg, p < 0.001 (95% CI = 21.89–6.66)) hands and in sit-and-reach flexibility (−6.64 cm, p < 0.001 (95% CI = 9.94–3.33)). No significant decreases in power output or peak jump velocity of 669.77 W (95% CI = 1942.92–603.39) and 0.28 m/s (95% CI = 0.69–0.14) were found and a non-significant, overall increase in vertical jump height of 6.09 cm (95% CI = −6.08 to 18.79) was seen. Decreases in body mass, grip strength and lower limb flexibility are evident in a grueling five-day selection course. Individuals planning on attending these courses should plan for these negative effects and build redundancy into their performance to minimize the effects of fatigue, decrease injury risk and maximize chances of completion.

Suggested Citation

  • Ben Schram & Jeremy Robinson & Robin Orr, 2020. "The Physical Fitness Effects of a Week-Long Specialist Tactical Police Selection Course," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-12, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:18:p:6782-:d:415138
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/18/6782/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/18/6782/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Robin Orr & Rodney Pope & Samantha Peterson & Benjamin Hinton & Michael Stierli, 2016. "Leg Power As an Indicator of Risk of Injury or Illness in Police Recruits," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-10, February.
    2. Jeremy Robinson & Ben Schram & Elisa Canetti & Robin Orr, 2019. "Do Barrier Test Results Predict Survival in Specialist Police Tactical Selection Courses?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-6, September.
    3. Robin Orr & Rodney Pope & Michael Stierli & Benjamin Hinton, 2017. "Grip Strength and Its Relationship to Police Recruit Task Performance and Injury Risk: A Retrospective Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-11, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Viktor Soltes & Jozef Kubas & Andrej Velas & David Michalík, 2021. "Occupational Safety of Municipal Police Officers: Assessing the Vulnerability and Riskiness of Police Officers’ Work," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-19, May.
    2. Justin J. Merrigan & Jason D. Stone & Andrew G. Thompson & W. Guy Hornsby & Joshua A. Hagen, 2020. "Monitoring Neuromuscular Performance in Military Personnel," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-26, December.
    3. Jessica Strader & Ben Schram & Shane Irving & Jeremy Robinson & Robin Orr, 2020. "Special Weapons and Tactics Occupational-Specific Physical Assessments and Fitness Measures," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-14, November.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Robert G. Lockie & J. Jay Dawes & Matthew R. Moreno & Megan B. McGuire & Tomas J. Ruvalcaba & Ashley M. Bloodgood & Joseph M. Dulla & Robin M. Orr, 2020. "We Need You: Influence of Hiring Demand and Modified Applicant Testing on the Physical Fitness of Law Enforcement Recruits," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-12, October.
    2. Robin Orr & Takato Sakurai & Jordan Scott & Jason Movshovich & J. Jay Dawes & Robert Lockie & Ben Schram, 2021. "The Use of Fitness Testing to Predict Occupational Performance in Tactical Personnel: A Critical Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-15, July.
    3. Matthew R. Moreno & Karly A. Rodas & Ashley M. Bloodgood & J. Jay Dawes & Joseph M. Dulla & Robin M. Orr & Robert G. Lockie, 2020. "The Influence of Aerobic Fitness on Heart Rate Responses of Custody Assistant Recruits during Circuit Training Sessions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-13, November.
    4. Robin Orr & Elisa F. D. Canetti & Rodney Pope & Robert G. Lockie & J. Jay Dawes & Ben Schram, 2023. "Characterization of Injuries Suffered by Mounted and Non-Mounted Police Officers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-12, January.
    5. Vini Simas & Ben Schram & Elisa F. D. Canetti & Danny Maupin & Robin Orr, 2022. "Factors Influencing Marksmanship in Police Officers: A Narrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-19, October.
    6. Zacharias Papadakis & Andreas Stamatis & Filip Kukic & Nenad Koropanovski, 2021. "Moving Past the One-Size-Fits-All Education-Training Model of Police Academies to the Self-Prescribed Individualized Exercise Prescription Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-19, November.
    7. Jessica Strader & Ben Schram & Shane Irving & Jeremy Robinson & Robin Orr, 2020. "Special Weapons and Tactics Occupational-Specific Physical Assessments and Fitness Measures," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-14, November.
    8. Robert G. Lockie & Robin M. Orr & Matthew R. Moreno & J. Jay Dawes & Joseph M. Dulla, 2019. "Time Spent Working in Custody Influences Work Sample Test Battery Performance of Deputy Sheriffs Compared to Recruits," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-12, March.
    9. Daniel Mon-López & Francisco Moreira da Silva & Santiago Calero Morales & Olga López-Torres & Jorge Lorenzo Calvo, 2019. "What Do Olympic Shooters Think about Physical Training Factors and Their Performance?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-12, November.
    10. Andrew Watterson, 2016. "Occupational Safety and Related Impacts on Health and the Environment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-4, October.
    11. Robin Orr & Rodney Pope & Michael Stierli & Benjamin Hinton, 2017. "Grip Strength and Its Relationship to Police Recruit Task Performance and Injury Risk: A Retrospective Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-11, August.
    12. Filip Kukić & Robert G. Lockie & Ana Vesković & Nikola Petrović & Dane Subošić & Danijela Spasić & Darko Paspalj & Lazar Vulin & Nenad Koropanovski, 2020. "Perceived and Measured Physical Fitness of Police Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-12, October.
    13. Filip Kukić & Katie M. Heinrich & Nenad Koropanovski & Walker S. C. Poston & Aleksandar Čvorović & J. Jay Dawes & Robin Orr & Milivoj Dopsaj, 2020. "Differences in Body Composition across Police Occupations and Moderation Effects of Leisure Time Physical Activity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-13, September.
    14. Robert G. Lockie & J. Jay Dawes & Katherine Balfany & Ciara E. Gonzales & Maria M. Beitzel & Joseph M. Dulla & Robin M. Orr, 2018. "Physical Fitness Characteristics That Relate to Work Sample Test Battery Performance in Law Enforcement Recruits," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-12, November.
    15. Sally Sawyer & Ben Schram & Rodney Pope & Robin Orr, 2021. "Profiling the Injuries Sustained by Police Trainees Undergoing Initial Training: A Retrospective Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-11, July.
    16. Robert G. Lockie & Karly A. Rodas & J. Jay Dawes & Joseph M. Dulla & Robin M. Orr & Matthew R. Moreno, 2021. "How Does Time Spent Working in Custody Influence Health and Fitness Characteristics of Law Enforcement Officers?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-17, September.
    17. Graham Marvin & Ben Schram & Robin Orr & Elisa F. D. Canetti, 2023. "Occupation-Induced Fatigue and Impacts on Emergency First Responders: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(22), pages 1-45, November.
    18. Robert G. Lockie & Robin M. Orr & J. Jay Dawes, 2022. "Justified Concerns? An Exploration of the Leg Tuck in a Tactical Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-14, October.
    19. Robin Orr & Ben Schram & Rodney Pope, 2018. "A Comparison of Military and Law Enforcement Body Armour," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-12, February.
    20. Robert G. Lockie & Katherine Balfany & Ashley M. Bloodgood & Matthew R. Moreno & Karly A. Cesario & Joseph M. Dulla & J. Jay Dawes & Robin M. Orr, 2019. "The Influence of Physical Fitness on Reasons for Academy Separation in Law Enforcement Recruits," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-13, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:18:p:6782-:d:415138. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.