Michael Stierli

Leg Power As an Indicator of Risk of Injury or Illness in Police Recruits

Tactical trainees, like those entering the police force, are required to undergo vigorous training as part of their occupational preparation. This training has the potential to cause injuries. In addition, the physical training, communal living and pressures of tactical training are known to induce immune suppression and have the potential to increase the risk of illness. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between leg power, as measured by a vertical jump (VJ), and rates of reported injuries and illnesses during police recruit training. Retrospective data from recruits (n = 1021) undergoing basic police recruit training at an Australian Police Force College was collected. Recruits completed a VJ assessment at the commencement of their second state of training. Formally reported illness and injuries were collected 12 weeks later, following completion of training. Correlations between VJ height and rates of reported illness and injury were low (r = −0.16 and −0.09, respectively) but significant (p < 0.005), with VJ height accounting for 2.6% and 0.8% of the variance in illness and injury rates, respectively. In terms of relative risks, recruits with the lowest recorded VJ heights were more than three times as likely as those with highest VJ heights to suffer injury and/or illness. Police recruits with lower VJ height are at a significantly greater risk of suffering an injury or illness during police basic recruit training.

Implementation of an ability based training program in police force recruits

Abstract Orr, RM, Ford, K, and Stierli, M. Implementation of an ability-based training program in police force recruits. J Strength Cond Res 30(10): 2781–2787, 2016—Currently, police recruit physical training programs generally use group-based runs of a “1 size fit all” approach. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of an ability-based training (ABT) program, as derived from the 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Assessment, on the metabolic fitness and injury rates of police recruits undergoing basic training. Police recruits completing two different stages of training (session 1: n = 54 and session 2: n = 233) were randomly assigned to either a control group (CG) (standard group running) or an intervention group (IG) (ABT program). Physical training was completed once a week over a 10-week period. Aerobic fitness was measured through 20-m progressive shuttle run test performance. Injury data were captured through formal accident and incident forms. Results found that aerobic fitness was maintained but not significantly improved in both groups for session 1, with no significant differences between the groups after training. In session 2, both groups significantly improved their aerobic fitness (p < 0.001), whereas the IG to a greater degree, with no significant differences between the groups after training. There were no significant differences in injury rates between groups (session 1: &khgr;2(1) = 1.533, p = 0.216; session 2: &khgr;2(1) = 1.252, p = 0.263). However, the IGs had a significantly lower relative risk (RR) of injury when compared with the CGs (group 1: RR = 0.31, p = 0.28; group 2: RR = 0.59, p = 0.24). The results suggest that coaches may benefit from implementing ABT programs in tactical populations and achieve the same or better fitness gains with a lower risk of injuring recruits.

Grip Strength and Its Relationship to Police Recruit Task Performance and Injury Risk: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Suitable grip strength is a police occupational requirement. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between grip strength, task performance and injury risk in a police population. Retrospective data of police recruits (n = 169) who had undergone basic recruit training were provided, including handgrip strength results, occupational task performance measures (consisting of police task simulations [SIM], tactical options [TACOPS] and marksmanship assessments) and injury records. Left hand grip strength (41.91 ± 8.29 kg) measures showed a stronger correlation than right hand grip strength (42.15 ± 8.53 kg) with all outcome measures. Recruits whose grip strength scores were lower were significantly more susceptible to failing the TACOPS occupational task assessment than those with greater grip strength scores, with significant (p ≤ 0.003) weak to moderate, positive correlations found between grip strength and TACOPS performance. A significant (p < 0.0001) correlation was found between grip strength, most notably of the left hand, and marksmanship performance, with those performing better in marksmanship having higher grip strength. Left hand grip strength was significantly associated with injury risk (r = −0.181, p = 0.018) but right hand grip strength was not. A positive association exists between handgrip strength and police recruit task performance (notably TACOPS and marksmanship) with recruits who scored poorly on grip strength being at greatest risk of occupational assessment task failure.