| dc.description | Background Police academies need fit recruits to successfully engage in training activities. In a previous retrospective
study, we documented that recruits with poor fitness at entry to the academy had significantly
lower graduation rates, and we also suggested evidence-based entry-level fitness recommendations.
Aims To validate our findings in a prospective cohort of police recruits.
Methods Recruits entering Massachusetts municipal police academies during 2015–16 were followed prospectively
until they dropped out, failed or successfully graduated their academy classes. Entry-level
fitness was quantified at the start of each training class using: body composition, push-ups, sit-ups,
sit-and-reach and 1.5-mile run time. The primary outcome of interest was the odds of failure (not
successfully graduating from an academy). We used logistic regression to assess the probability of not
graduating, based on entry-level fitness.
Results On average, successful graduates were leaner and possessed better overall entry-level fitness. After
adjusting for age, gender and body mass index, several fitness measures were strongly associated with
academy failure: fewer sit-ups completed (OR 9.6 (95% CI 3.5–26.3) (≤15 versus 41–60)); fewer
push-ups completed (OR 6.7 (95% CI 2.5–17.5) (≤20 versus 41–60)); and slower run times (OR
18.4 (95% CI 6.8–50.2) (1.5 miles in > 15 min 20 s versus 10 min 37 s to 12 min 33 s)). The prospective
study results supported previously suggested minimum entry-level fitness (95% graduation
rate) and target (98% graduation rate) recommendations.
Conclusions Push-ups completed and 1.5-mile run time at police academy entry were successfully validated as
predictors of successful academy graduation, while sit-ups were also a strong independent predictor
in the prospective study. | |
