ECSS Paris 2023: CP-AP14
INTRODUCTION: Due to the risks inherent to their profession, police officers serving in tactical response unit (TRU) are expected to possess the minimum physical capacities required to meet the job’s physical demands. Identifying the physical fitness components associated with performance of job‑related tasks as well as employment‑related physical employment standards (PES) can therefore provide valuable information to guide the physical preparation of these tactical athletes. Consequently, this study’s objective was to assess the association between selected physical fitness components and performance on the ESAP‑TRU, the new PES used for the recruitment of TRU members in Quebec. METHODS: A total of 64 TRU members as well as 15 police cadets aged 20–54 years were recruited. First, participants completed the ESAP‑TRU, which includes a loaded cardiorespiratory fitness assessment and a timed obstacle course. They then completed a battery of physical tests including a shuttle run, handgrip strength assessment, standing long jump, medicine ball throw, 5‑10‑5 agility test, as well as loaded squat and loaded push‑up tests. Spearman correlations were calculated to examine relationships between the eight physical test results and ESAP‑TRU performance. Additionally, multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the extent to which the physical test battery could predict ESAP‑TRU performance. RESULTS: On average, participants completed the ESAP‑TRU course in 166 seconds and reached 9.7 levels on the shuttle run test. Significant moderate correlations were found between ESAP‑TRU performance and the shuttle run test (r = −0.472, p < 0.001), loaded squats (r = −0.430, p < 0.001), 5‑10‑5 agility test (r = 0.404, p < 0.001), loaded push‑ups (r = −0.390, p < 0.001), handgrip strength (r = −0.361, p < 0.001), and medicine ball put (r = −0.300, p = 0.007). A small but significant correlation was observed between the standing long jump and ESAP‑TRU performance (r = −0.248, p = 0.027). Furthermore, multiple regression analyses indicated that ESAP‑GTI performance can be predicted from the shuttle run test, handgrip strength, medicine ball put, and loaded squats (R² = 0.428, F(4,77) = 13.66, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Data analysis demonstrated the importance of cardiorespiratory fitness and lower‑body muscular endurance under loaded conditions in meeting the physical job standards required of TRU members. These physical qualities should, therefore, be prioritized in the physical preparation of current TRU officers as well as candidates aspiring to join these units.
Read CV Meghan GarceauECSS Paris 2023: CP-AP14