(58) A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY RECRUIT FITNESS OVER A 15 YEAR PERIOD

Recruits at law enforcement training academies are often assessed across a range of fitness capabilities, such as muscular endurance, muscular-strength, aerobic capacity, and flexibility. Over recent years, however, the general population (which tactical populations such as law enforcement agencies recruit from) has trended towards higher levels of obesity and poorer body composition. This could negatively impact fitness capabilities. If departments are hiring recruits from a less-fit population, it could potentially alter how they train and assess fitness levels for future recruits.

Purpose: To investigate changes in the fitness of law enforcement recruits over a 15-year period utilizing an archival dataset.

Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed on recruits from one agency in the southeastern United States across four time periods (2003, n=93; 2006, n=137; 2009, n=74; 2018, n=167). The following variables were recorded for all recruits within the first two weeks of their respective training academy: body mass index (BMI); sit-and-reach; combined grip-strength; 60-s sit-ups and push-ups; 2.4-km run; and a timed physical ability test (PAT) which was unique to the agency involving a battery of occupationally specific tasks to be completed. This PAT incorporated tasks such as a vehicle exit and re-entry, ~201 m runs, an obstacle course and dry-fire weapon drills. Data were analyzed via univariate analysis of covariance with significance set at p< 0.05 and sex and age acting as covariates. Sexes were combined within year groupings and Bonferroni post-hoc analysis was used for pairwise comparison analysis.

Results: The 2018 recruits had a significantly greater BMI compared to all preceding years (2003, 2009: p< 0.001; 2006, p=0.04). The sit-and-reach scores for the 2018 recruits was significantly (p< 0.001) lower than the 2003 recruits. Grip strength scores were greater for the 2006 and 2018 recruits compared to the 2003 recruits (p< 0.001). The 2006 and 2009 recruits completed more push-ups than the 2003 recruits (p=0.002). The 2006 and 2018 recruits completed more sit-ups compared to the 2003 recruits (p< 0.005). 2.4-km run-times were significantly longer for 2018 recruits compared to all preceding years (p< 0.05). Finally, compared to the 2003 recruits, PAT times were longer for 2009 and 2018 recruits.

Conclusions: As BMI scores increased over the years, so did completion times in tests that had an aerobic component (the 2.4-km run and PAT). These data suggest BMI may negatively affect the aerobic fitness of recruits. In contrast, muscular endurance (push-ups, sit-ups) generally did not follow negative trends over the time course of this analysis. However, sit-and-reach scores declined over time within the years of analysis. Reduced flexibility could affect injury rates and task-performance in active-duty officers, which highlights this as a potential area of focus in terms of job-readiness post-graduation during academy. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Documenting fitness trends in recruit populations could allow staff to better allocate training time during academy. The increased BMI scores and reduced aerobic fitness (2.4-km run, PAT) for recruits from the most recent year of analysis could indicate that training staffs should implement measures needed to manage BMI and enhance aerobic fitness. Although further research is required, this may improve performance metrics and enhance graduation rates within these populations.

Acknowledgements: None