2.4-km Run and 20-m Multistage Fitness Test Relationships in Law Enforcement Recruits After Academy Training

Abstract

The 2.4-km run and 20-m multistage fitness test (20MSFT) are common aerobic fitness tests in law enforcement. Previous research analyzed relationships between these tests in recruits, and indicated limited transferability due to disparate demands (direction changes, running intensity). However, the correlations between 2.4-km run and 20MSFT in recruits postacademy training may be different, where recruits should be fitter and able to complete highintensity running efforts. This study documented changes in and relationships between the 2.4km run and 20MSFT in law enforcement recruits post-academy training. Retrospective analysis on six academy classes (276 males, 50 females) from one agency was conducted. The 20MSFT and 2.4-km run were completed pre-and post-academy training. Estimated V O2max was derived from 2.4-km run time and the 20MSFT shuttle number. Paired-samples t-tests ascertained whether the 2.4-km run and 20MSFT improved post-academy. Correlations and linear regression derived relationships between the 2.4-km run and 20MSFT. Recruits improved in the 2.4-km run and 20MSFT (p < 0.01). There were significant correlations between the 2.4km run and 20MSFT for all recruits (r = -0.49), males (r = -0.48), and females (r = -0.29).However, the regression equations for all recruits (r 2 = 0.24), males (r 2 = 0.23) and females (r 2 = 0.08) were low. The results suggested there were disparate aspects to the 2.4-km run and 20MSFT in law enforcement recruits post-academy. Even though aerobic fitness improved, there are likely other aspects important to the 20MSFT not developed during academy (changeof-direction ability, high-intensity running). This could have impact the between-test relationship.

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“…Only those recruits with full datasets were considered in the analysis for this study. The characteristics of the subjects in this study, and the between-sex ratio, was similar to that from previous law enforcement research [ 4 , 6 , 10 , 12 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. Based on the archival nature of this study, the institutional ethics committee approved the use of pre-existing data (HSR-17-18-370).…”

“…The weather conditions for testing for all classes were typical of the climate of southern California. Although conducting testing outdoors is not ideal, there was no available indoor testing facility available for this agency and these procedures followed standard guidelines for this LEA [ 4 , 6 , 10 , 12 , 23 , 24 , 29 ]. Recruits rotated through the fitness tests in small groups of 3–4, except for the 20MSFT which was completed last in groups of 14–16.…”

“…The 20MSFT was used to measure maximal aerobic capacity in the recruits and was conducted outdoors on an asphalt surface, which was the standard venue used at the LEA’s facility [ 23 ]. Recruits were required to run back and forth between two lines spaced 20 m apart, which were indicated by markers.…”

“…This test was scored according to the final level and stage the recruit was able to achieve, and the level and stage results were converted to the total number of shuttles completed. This approach has been used in a number of law enforcement-specific studies [ 9 , 10 , 23 , 26 , 30 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ].…”

“…Data were analyzed with both sexes combined, in addition to males and females separately. The sexes were analyzed separately as numerous studies have documented sex differences in the physical performance of law enforcement populations [ 6 , 12 , 23 , 29 ]. Following Bonferroni correction for number of statistical tests of significance performed for the combined-sex, male, and female samples, the overall level of significance was set a priori at p ≤ 0.001 to limit type I errors [ 9 ].…”