Abstract
Deputy sheriffs are typically required to work in custody prior to patrol. The
sedentary job demands of custody, and lack of a mandated fitness standard, may
influence the general health of deputies and their ability to perform patrol job
tasks. The purpose of this study was to examine fitness characteristics of deputies
after working custody. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 60 (♂ = 48, ♀
= 12; age = 33 ± 6.3 years) deputies from one patrol school class. Health and
fitness assessments included: fat mass; body mass index (BMI); resting blood
pressure; grip strength; sit and reach; push-ups and sit-ups in 60 s; and recovery
heart rate from a YMCA 3-min step test as a measure of aerobic fitness. Data
were compared to ACSM age and sex-related norms, or law enforcement norms
for push-ups and sit-ups. Analyzing body fat, 1.69% of the deputies were
classified as good, 10.17% as fair, 28.81% as poor, and 59.32% as very poor. For
BMI, 18.33% were normal, 45% were overweight, 26.67% were class I obesity,
and 10% were class II obesity. For blood pressure, 13.33% of the deputies had
normal blood pressure, 13.33% had elevated blood pressure, 30% were
considered stage 1 hypertension, 41.67% were considered stage 2 hypertension,
and 1.67% in a hypertensive crisis. Considering grip strength, 12.07% were above
average, 12.07% were average, 15.52% were below average, while 60.34% were
poor. For the sit and reach, 1.72% were excellent, 10.34% were very good,
18.97% were good, 25.86% were fair, and 43.1% were deemed as needing
improvement. When comparing push-ups to other law enforcement officers,
13.04% were in the 76th
-100th percentile, 34.78% in the 51st
-75th, 21.74% in the
26th
-50th, and 30.43% in the 1st
-25th percentile. The same comparison for sit-ups
resulted in 10.64% of the class in the 76th
-100th percentile, 8.52% in the 51st
-75th
,
36.18% in the 26th
-50th, and 44.69% in the 1st
-25th percentile. For the YMCA step
test, 5% were above average, 6.67% were average, 21.67% of the deputies were
below average, 40% poor, and 26.67% very poor. Post custody assignments,
deputy sheriffs exhibit health and fitness trends that were below the general
population and other law enforcement officers. Agency staff should encourage,
and facilitate, the maintenance of health and fitness of deputies working in
custody to ensure deputies are fit for life and duty.
sedentary job demands of custody, and lack of a mandated fitness standard, may
influence the general health of deputies and their ability to perform patrol job
tasks. The purpose of this study was to examine fitness characteristics of deputies
after working custody. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 60 (♂ = 48, ♀
= 12; age = 33 ± 6.3 years) deputies from one patrol school class. Health and
fitness assessments included: fat mass; body mass index (BMI); resting blood
pressure; grip strength; sit and reach; push-ups and sit-ups in 60 s; and recovery
heart rate from a YMCA 3-min step test as a measure of aerobic fitness. Data
were compared to ACSM age and sex-related norms, or law enforcement norms
for push-ups and sit-ups. Analyzing body fat, 1.69% of the deputies were
classified as good, 10.17% as fair, 28.81% as poor, and 59.32% as very poor. For
BMI, 18.33% were normal, 45% were overweight, 26.67% were class I obesity,
and 10% were class II obesity. For blood pressure, 13.33% of the deputies had
normal blood pressure, 13.33% had elevated blood pressure, 30% were
considered stage 1 hypertension, 41.67% were considered stage 2 hypertension,
and 1.67% in a hypertensive crisis. Considering grip strength, 12.07% were above
average, 12.07% were average, 15.52% were below average, while 60.34% were
poor. For the sit and reach, 1.72% were excellent, 10.34% were very good,
18.97% were good, 25.86% were fair, and 43.1% were deemed as needing
improvement. When comparing push-ups to other law enforcement officers,
13.04% were in the 76th
-100th percentile, 34.78% in the 51st
-75th, 21.74% in the
26th
-50th, and 30.43% in the 1st
-25th percentile. The same comparison for sit-ups
resulted in 10.64% of the class in the 76th
-100th percentile, 8.52% in the 51st
-75th
,
36.18% in the 26th
-50th, and 44.69% in the 1st
-25th percentile. For the YMCA step
test, 5% were above average, 6.67% were average, 21.67% of the deputies were
below average, 40% poor, and 26.67% very poor. Post custody assignments,
deputy sheriffs exhibit health and fitness trends that were below the general
population and other law enforcement officers. Agency staff should encourage,
and facilitate, the maintenance of health and fitness of deputies working in
custody to ensure deputies are fit for life and duty.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - Oct 2018 |
| Event | The 38th Annual Meeting of the Southwest Regional Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine - Costa Mesa Hilton, Costa Mesa, United States Duration: 26 Oct 2018 → 27 Oct 2018 Conference number: 38th https://www.acsm.org/acsm-membership/regional-chapters/acsm-chapters/southwest/southwest-l2 |
Conference
| Conference | The 38th Annual Meeting of the Southwest Regional Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | SWACSM |
| Country/Territory | United States |
| City | Costa Mesa |
| Period | 26/10/18 → 27/10/18 |
| Internet address |
