Measurement of Functional Capacity Requirements of Police Officers to Aid in Development of an Occupation-Specific Cardiac Rehabilitation Training Program

Abstract

This study was designed to measure the functional capacity of healthy subjects during strenuous simulated police tasks, with the goal of developing occupation-specific training for cardiac rehabilitation of police officers. A calibrated metabolic instrument and an oxygen consumption data collection mask were used to measure the oxygen consumption and heart rates of 30 Dallas Police Academy officers and cadets as they completed an 8-event obstacle course that simulated chasing, subduing, and handcuffing a suspect. Standard target heart rates (85% of age-predicted maximum heart rate, or 0.85 × [220 -age]) and metabolic equivalents (METs) were calculated; a matched-sample t test based on differences between target and achieved heart rate and MET level was used for statistical analysis. Peak heart rates during the obstacle course simulation were significantly higher than the standard target heart rates (those at which treadmill stress tests in physicians' offices are typically stopped) (t 29 = 12.81, P < 0.001) and significantly higher than the suggested maximum of 150 beats/min during cardiac rehabilitation training (t 29 = 17.84, P < 0.001). Peak MET levels during the obstacle course simulation were also significantly higher than the goal level (8 METs) that patients typically achieve in a cardiac rehabilitation program (t 29 = 14.73, P < 0.001). We conclude that police work requires a functional capacity greater than that typically attained in traditional cardiac rehabilitation programs. Rehabilitation professionals should consider performing maximal stress tests and increasing the intensity of cardiac rehabilitation workouts to effectively train police officers who have had a cardiac event.olice work involves exposure to a broad range of emotionally harrowing incidents and is often cited as one of the most stressful occupations (1). Traumatic events such as shootings, severe motor vehicle accidents, and incidents involving the death of a child are all ranked as extremely stressful by law enforcement personnel (2-4). Given the overwhelming stress of events like these, coupled with the continual threat of physical danger, it is not surprising that police work has been linked to high rates of cardiovascular disease. In a report covering data from 1990 to 2000, heart attacks accounted for 22% of deaths among on-duty police officers and detectives (5).A previous study of Dallas-area police officers found that middle-aged officers had below-average fitness levels compared with the average sedentary population of similar age and were at higher risk of coronary heart disease than their sedentary counterparts (6). Most of the time, police work is not physically demanding; however, physical tasks are invariably part of the job (7). Endurance and strength are needed for tasks such as chasing suspects on foot, climbing over fences, jumping across ditches or creek beds, and wrestling with individuals who resist being subdued (6, 7). Being in better-than-average physical condition is vital because police officers must often d...

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