scholarly journals A Descriptive Physical Profile of Western Australian Male Paramedics

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
D Chapman ◽  
J Peiffer ◽  
C Abbiss ◽  
P Laursen
Keyword(s):  
Grip Strength ◽  
Aerobic Capacity ◽  
Vertical Jump ◽  
Anaerobic Capacity ◽  
Test Body ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Physical Conditioning ◽  
Percentage Body Fat ◽  
Special Operations ◽  
Physical Profile

Introduction The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the physical characteristics of a group of West Australian male paramedics. Methods Data was collected from conventional (CO) (n=18) and special operations (SO) (n=11) officers undergoing occupational performance evaluations as contracted by St. John Ambulance Australia to an external independent third party. Using a series of field-based physical conditioning tests, aerobic capacity (multistage shuttle run test), body composition (skinfolds), flexibility (sit-and-reach test), muscular strength (5 stage abdominal and grip strength), muscular endurance (sit-ups, push-ups and chin-ups in 60 seconds (s)), power (vertical jump height), and anaerobic capacity/agility using the Bangsbo agility test were examined. Results The average predicted aerobic capacity of all officers was 45.8±5.2 ml·kg·min-1 (mean ± SD). Mean rating of abdominal strength was 4±1 and mean grip strength was 52±9 kg. The maximum number of sit-ups, push-ups and chin-ups performed in 60 s was 21±11, 40±12 and 7±5, respectively. Significantly more push-ups were completed for SO than for CO. Percentage body fat was significantly lower for SO than for CO. Fatigue index score (Bangsbo test) were significantly lower for SO than for CO. Conclusion The physical fitness profile of our sample indicated above normal levels of aerobic capacity, local muscle endurance and muscle strength, which likely contributes to workplace performance competency. However the fitness profile highlighted a potential deficiency in anaerobic capacity. Paramedics may benefit from a physical conditioning program with emphasis on their ability to operate at a greater functional capacity for higher repeated near maximal efforts.

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

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (18) ◽  
pp. 6782 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Schram ◽  
Jeremy Robinson ◽  
Robin Orr
Keyword(s):  
Grip Strength ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Injury Risk ◽  
Vertical Jump ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Police Selection ◽  
Special Operations ◽  
Jump Velocity ◽  
The Right ◽  
Tactical Teams

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.

scholarly journals With great power comes great ability: Extending research on fitness characteristics that influence work sample test battery performance in law enforcement recruits

Work ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Robert G. Lockie ◽  
Matthew R. Moreno ◽  
Karly A. Cesario ◽  
Joseph M. Dulla ◽  
Robin M. Orr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Task Performance ◽  
Aerobic Capacity ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Solid Wall ◽  
Vertical Jump ◽  
Anaerobic Capacity ◽  
Muscular Endurance ◽  
Great Ability ◽  
Change Of Direction ◽  
Mountain Climbers

BACKGROUND: Fitness could influence task performance in police officers. Limited research details relationships between different fitness characteristics and police-specific tasks. OBJECTIVE: Determine relationships between anaerobic and aerobic capacity with police-specific task performance. METHODS: Data for 308 recruits was analysed. Fitness tests included: push-ups, sit-ups, and mountain climbers (muscular endurance); pull-ups (strength); vertical jump (VJ) and 2 kg medicine ball throw (MBT; power); 75-yard pursuit run (75PR; change-of-direction speed); 201 m run (anaerobic capacity); 2.4 km run and multistage fitness test (aerobic capacity). Police tasks included: 99-yard obstacle course (99OC); 74.84 kg body drag (BD); chain link fence (CLF) and solid wall (SW) climbs; and 500-yard run (500R). Partial correlations controlling for sex and linear regression calculated relationships between fitness and job tasks. RESULTS: 99OC correlated with all assessments; BD only with 75PR. CLF related to the power and aerobic capacity tests, pull-ups, and 201 m run. SW related to VJ, 75PR, pull-ups, sit-ups, 201 m run, and aerobic capacity. 500R related to all except the MBT and 2.4 km run. 75PR and VJ predicted 4/5 tasks. CONCLUSIONS: Police research has shown the importance of muscular endurance and aerobic capacity. Specific to this studies’ correlations, the value of power and change-of-direction speed development for task performance was indicated.

scholarly journals The effect of menstrual cycle phase on multiple performance test parameters

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahsen Oğul ◽  
Sabriye Ercan ◽  
Mesut Ergan ◽  
Tuba İnce Parpucu ◽  
Cem Çetin
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Menstrual Cycle ◽  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Aerobic Capacity ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
Vertical Jump ◽  
Anaerobic Capacity ◽  
Wingate Test ◽  
Cycle Phase ◽  
Significant Difference

Objective: To determine changes in flexibility, dynamic balance, agility, vertical jump, aerobic capacity, anaerobic capacity, and muscle strength performances in women in the early follicular and midluteal phases of the menstrual cycle. Material and Methods: The study included eumenorrheic women over 18 years of age. Ovulation was detected using LH urine kits. Physical activity levels were determined using the "International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form". Flexibility was evaluated with the sit-and-reach test, dynamic balance with the Y balance test, agility with the hexagon agility test, anaerobic power with the vertical jump test, aerobic capacity with the 20-meter shuttle run test, anaerobic capacity with the Wingate test, and muscle strength with an isokinetic dynamometer. Results: Twenty women participated in the study. The average age was 22.4 ± 0.9 years, and the average level of physical activity was 1162.2 ± 189.1 MET-min/week. The average menstrual cycle was 30.3 ± 0.5 days. The ‘minimum power’ value in Wingate test was higher during the midluteal phase compared with the follicular phase (p=0.048). The remaining parameters were not statistically different for the two menstrual phases (p>0.05). Conclusion: We conclude that different phases of the menstrual cycle affect performance parameters minimally and do not cause a statistically significant difference. Nevertheless, instead of establishing these changes as ‘clinically non-significant’, each athlete should be evaluated on an individual basis to develop individual training programs by taking into account the phases of the menstrual cycle.

Influence of the Cyclist’s Characteristics on the Optimal Pacing Strategy for an Ascending Road

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Angulo ◽  
Alejandra Polanco ◽  
Luis Muñoz
Keyword(s):  
Aerobic Capacity ◽  
Anaerobic Power ◽  
Anaerobic Capacity ◽  
Power Delivery ◽  
Race Time ◽  
Pacing Strategy ◽  
Pacing Strategies ◽  
Road Grade ◽  
Aerobic And Anaerobic ◽  
Drag Area

Abstract Pacing strategies are used in cycling to optimize the power delivered by the cyclist during a race. Gains in race time have been obtained when using these strategies compared to self-paced approaches. For this reason, this study is focused on revising the effect that the variation of the cyclist’s parameters has on the pacing strategy and its results. A numeric method was used to propose pacing strategies for a cyclist riding on an ascending 3.7 km route with a constant 6.26% road grade. The method was validated and then implemented to study the effect of aerobic and anaerobic power delivery capacity, mass, and drag area on the pacing strategies and their corresponding estimated race times. The results showed that modifying 1% of the aerobic capacity or cyclist mass value led to a change of 1% on the race time. Modifying 1% the anaerobic capacity and the drag area led to changes of 0.03% and 0.02% on the race time, respectively. These results are strongly dependent on the route characteristics. It was concluded that for the studied route (constantly ascending), the variation of the cyclist’s aerobic capacity influences the pacing strategy (i.e., the power delivery over the distance). The anaerobic capacity and mass of the cyclist also influence the pacing strategy to a lesser extent.

Body structure, muscular strength and living conditions of primary school children in Warsaw

2020 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 98-107
Author(s):  
Anna Siniarska ◽  
Joanna Nieczuja-Dwojacka ◽  
Małgorzata Grochowska ◽  
Sławomir Kozieł
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Grip Strength ◽  
School Children ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Muscular Strength ◽  
Vertical Jump ◽  
Body Height ◽  
Living Conditions ◽  
Primary School Children ◽  
Body Structure

AbstractThe aim of this study was to determine whether the living conditions of school children affects their body structure and muscular strength. Data were taken from 400 girls and 341 boys aged 7–15 years attending nine primary schools in Warsaw in 1997. A questionnaire was completed, anthropological measurements made and two muscular strength tests conducted. The questionnaire asked questions on the children’s level of education, their parents’ professions and monthly incomes, the number of persons in the family and the number of rooms in the family’s apartment/home. Body height, body weight, chest and arm circumferences, grip strength and vertical jump height were measured and used to calculate body mass index, Marty’s Index and the Sargent Vertical Jump Index. Statistical tests included Student’s t-test, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and multiple regression analysis. Body height, chest circumference, Sargent Vertical Jump Index and grip strength were significantly greater in the boys than the girls. Two factors, namely ‘socioeconomic status’ (F1) and ‘family size’ (F2), describing living conditions, were isolated after PCA. Boys from bigger families (F2) were shorter, with lower weights and BMIs, smaller chest and arm circumferences and greater grip strengths than those from smaller families, whereas girls from families of lower socioeconomic status (F1) weighed less and had greater BMIs and arm circumferences than those from higher socioeconomic status families. The results suggest that boys seem to be more ‘ecosensitive’ than girls.

Effects of weight lifting training combined with plyometric exercises on physical fitness, body composition, and knee extension velocity during kicking in football

2008 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 501-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Perez-Gomez ◽  
Hugo Olmedillas ◽  
Safira Delgado-Guerra ◽  
Ignacio Ara Royo ◽  
German Vicente-Rodriguez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Myosin Heavy Chain ◽  
Heavy Chain ◽  
Vertical Jump ◽  
Anaerobic Capacity ◽  
Weight Lifting ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Type I ◽  
Kicking Performance

The effects of a training program consisting of weight lifting combined with plyometric exercises on kicking performance, myosin heavy-chain composition (vastus lateralis), physical fitness, and body composition (using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)) was examined in 37 male physical education students divided randomly into a training group (TG: 16 subjects) and a control group (CG: 21 subjects). The TG followed 6 weeks of combined weight lifting and plyometric exercises. In all subjects, tests were performed to measure their maximal angular speed of the knee during instep kicks on a stationary ball. Additional tests for muscle power (vertical jump), running speed (30 m running test), anaerobic capacity (Wingate and 300 m running tests), and aerobic power (20 m shuttle run tests) were also performed. Training resulted in muscle hypertrophy (+4.3%), increased peak angular velocity of the knee during kicking (+13.6%), increased percentage of myosin heavy-chain (MHC) type IIa (+8.4%), increased 1 repetition maximum (1 RM) of inclined leg press (ILP) (+61.4%), leg extension (LE) (+20.2%), leg curl (+15.9%), and half squat (HQ) (+45.1%), and enhanced performance in vertical jump (all p ≤ 0.05). In contrast, MHC type I was reduced (–5.2%, p ≤ 0.05) after training. In the control group, these variables remained unchanged. In conclusion, 6 weeks of strength training combining weight lifting and plyometric exercises results in significant improvement of kicking performance, as well as other physical capacities related to success in football (soccer).

Behavior Tracking and 3-Year Longitudinal Associations Between Physical Activity, Screen Time, and Fitness Among Young Children

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 132-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morgan Potter ◽  
John C. Spence ◽  
Normand Boulé ◽  
Jodie A. Stearns ◽  
Valerie Carson
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Grip Strength ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Vertical Jump ◽  
Multiple Regression Models ◽  
Longitudinal Associations ◽  
Behavior Tracking

Purpose: Understanding the correlates of children’s fitness as they develop is needed. The objectives of this study were to 1) examine the longitudinal associations between physical activity (PA), screen time (ST), and fitness; 2) determine if sex moderates associations; and 3) track PA and ST over 3 years. Methods: Findings are based on 649 children [baseline = 4.5 (0.5) y; follow-up = 7.8 (0.6) y] from Edmonton, Canada. Parental-reported hour per week of PA and ST were measured at baseline and 3 years later. Fitness (vertical jump, sit and reach, waist circumference, grip strength, predicted VO2max, push-ups, and partial curl-ups) was measured using established protocols at follow-up. Sex-specific z scores or low/high fitness groups were calculated. Linear or logistic multiple regression models and Spearman correlations were conducted. Results: Baseline ST was negatively associated with follow-up grip strength [β = −0.010; 95% confidence interval (CI), −0.019 to −0.001]. Associations between baseline PA and follow-up overall fitness (β = 0.009; 95% CI, 0.002 to 0.016) were significant, whereas baseline PA and follow-up VO2max (β = 0.014; 95% CI, 0.000 to 0.027) approached significance (P < .06). No sex interactions were observed. Moderate and large tracking were observed for PA (rs = .30) and ST (rs = .53), respectively. Conclusions: PA and ST may be important modifiable correlates of overall fitness in young children.

scholarly journals Laboratory Assessments and Field Tests in Predicting Competitive Performance of Swimmers

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (86) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilona Judita Zuozienė ◽  
Jonas Poderys
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Power ◽  
Vertical Jump ◽  
Anaerobic Capacity ◽  
Traction Force ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Laboratory Research ◽  
Functional Fitness ◽  
Testing Procedures ◽  
Dynamical Parameters

Research background and hypothesis. The assessments of functional fitness of swimmers includes the analyses of the physical, physiological and biomechanical indices for scientific purposes. The hypothesis is that dynamical parameters registered while performing field testing tasks could be more informative than laboratory assessments in predicting the performance abilities. The aim of the study was to compare the informativeness of field tests and laboratory assessments in predicting the possible performance of athletes in the 50 m distance.Research methods. Twelve professional swimmers took part in three testing procedures. First, each participant performed a test in  water to establish the traction force parameters and indices of muscle power and anaerobic capacity. Second, the subjects performed a control 50 m freestyle swim the best they could. Third, the indices of relative muscle power during jumping tasks, anaerobic capacity, and functional indices of cardiovascular system were assessed during laboratory testing.Research results. Significant correlation was found between the results in 50 m swimming and traction forces while performing testing tasks in water or out of water with arms or arms and legs together. However, there was no statistically significant correlation between the results in swimming and the height of vertical jump. Still there exists significant correlation (p  < 0.05) between the speed and force components as well as fatigability index and the competition result (r = –0.47; r = 0.56 and r = 0.67, respectively).Discussion and conclusions. Dynamical parameters measured in the swimming pool while performing field tests are more suitable than the data of laboratory research for predicting the results of swimmers in the 50m freestyle swim. The vertical high jump tests and indices of ECG allow distinguishing the factors limiting the working capacity of athletes.Keywords: swimming, functional fitness, field test.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document