Abstract

Physical performance is crucial to enable police officers to complete occupation-related tasks effectively. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of a twelve-week un-supervised structured exercise training programme across a range of fitness measures. 23 UK firearms officers underwent initial physical assessments then completed a 12-week training intervention that included exercises that targeted aerobic and anaerobic capacity, muscular strength and endurance, and flexibility. For cardiovascular fitness, officers were advised to complete 3 d.wk-1, 10 minutes per session starting at an intensity of 7-8 (RPE) with a work to rest ratio of 1:1 progressing to RPE level 8-9 and work to rest ratio of 1:2 and then to RPE level 9-10 with a work to rest ratio of 1:3. For resistance-related training, officers were advised to complete a minimum 1 d.wk-1, 10 minutes per session. Physical assessments were reassessed and analysed to identify if significant (p≤0.05) changes due to the intervention occurred. The training intervention produced moderate significant increases in VO2 max of 1.7 ml·kg-1·min-1 (d=1.12; p<0.001), grip strength of 8.1 kg (d=0.89; p=0.002), and reaction score of 2.7 strikes (d=0.73; p=0.007). The firearms officers had a good level of muscular endurance at the beginning of the assessment, which stayed relatively stable after the training intervention. The outcomes of this study suggest that a twelve-week structured non-supervised exercise training programme can improve a range of beneficial physical and fitness measures.