February 2019; Vol. 8, No. 1: Pages 1-4
The effects of aerobic fitness on day one physical training session completion in law enforcement recruits
Robert G. Lockie, Matthew R. Moreno, Karly A. Cesario, Megan B. McGuire, J. Jay Dawes, Robin M. Orr, Joseph M. Dulla.Abstract
Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine if there were differences in aerobic fitness between recruits who completed or failed a physical training (PT) session on day one of law enforcement agency (LEA) academy training. Design and Methods: Retrospective data from one class comprising 101 LEA recruits (♂=78; ♀=23) were analyzed. Recruits completed the multistage fitness test (MSFT) three days prior to academy. The number of completed shuttles and estimated maximal aerobic capacity (V̇O2max) derived from this test provided measures of aerobic fitness. LEA staff ran the PT session on day one, which incorporated psychological stress, calisthenics, and a 2-mile (3.22-km) formation run completed at a 10 minute·mile-1 pace. Failure to complete the run resulted in PT failure. A one-way ANOVA (p<0.05) calculated between-sex differences; univariate repeated measures ANCOVA (sex was a covariate) derived differences between those that completed or failed the PT session. Results: Males completed more MSFT shuttles and had a higher V̇O2max than females (p<0.01). Eighty-six recruits (♂=70; ♀=16) completed the PT session; 15 (♂=8; ♀=7) did not. Recruits that completed the PT session were younger, lighter, completed 57% more MSFT shuttles, and had a 25% greater estimated V̇O2max (p≤0.03). Conclusions: Higher aerobic fitness, measured via the MSFT, likely contributed to law enforcement recruits successfully completing a PT session conducted on day one of academy training. The PT session intensity affected older recruits and females more. These recruits in particular should enhance aerobic fitness prior to academy to successfully complete this, and potentially future, PT.
Received December 23, 2018; accepted February 23, 2019