The effect of physical training modality on exercise performance with police-related personal protective equipment

The comfort and functional performance of personal protective equipment for police officers: a systematic scoping review

This scoping review aimed to identify and summarise evidence on the comfort and functional performance of police officer personal protective equipment (PPE). The Arksey and O'Malley (2005) five-stage framework for scoping reviews was followed. PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched, and 35 articles were included in the review. The findings show that increased police PPE mass increases heart rate, metabolic energy expenditure, and perceived exertion in response to exercise. Unisex armour designs cause increased discomfort for females with larger bra sizes. PPE reduces joint-specific range of motion, with the design and location impairing movement more than mass. Jumping and sprinting performance is decreased with heavy PPE but unaffected by lighter protection, while agility is compromised with most forms of protection. Future research is needed on the fit and function of PPE for specialist police units, such as mounted police, along with further investigations on how fit can affect functional performance.

ROCK-CLIMBING EXERCISE IN THE PHYSICAL TRAINING OF ATHLETES

ABSTRACT Introduction: With the promotion of rock climbing in the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020 and the China National Games in 2017, the sport has been spread to the general public, and the country has paid more attention to its development. Objective: Study the effects of rock-climbing exercise on athletes' performance in physical training. Methods: A comparative study was conducted on the physical training of rock climbers through literary consultation, experience, and mathematical statistics aiming to explore the impact of the sport on physical training in rock climbers. Fifteen professional rock-climbing team athletes participated in this research. Results: A significant difference was found in strength quality between the experimental group and the control group (p<0.05), there were very significant differences in the fixed bar, push-ups, and 1min abdominal exercises (p<0.01) after the experiment, there were significant differences in speed, agility, and endurance between the experimental group and the control group (p<0.05), with emphasis on motor coordination and speed quality (p<0.01). Conclusion: Integrating physical training with rock climbing training has a remarkable effect on improving athletes' physical performance. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.

ABDOMINAL CENTER STRENGTH TRAINING IN TABLE TENNIS PLAYERS

ABSTRACT Introduction: A series of reforms in table tennis involving the development trend of table tennis technology and the needs of athletes to improve competitive ability and prevent injuries have presented new requirements for the abdominal center strength of athletes. Objective: Study the impacts of implementing abdominal center strength training on the training of table tennis players. Methods: A broad literature search and experimental comparison were performed. Twenty professional athletes aged 14 to 20 from the men's table tennis team were selected as volunteers for the research, divided into two groups according to the mean, standard deviation, and results of special technical tests. An independent sample t-test was performed on both groups. Results: Significant differences were found for abdominal control, for legs and arms crossed on both ends, for supine posture, and for leg raising (P<0.05). Conclusion: Abdominal center strength training can effectively improve the special ability level of young table tennis players, improve the body control ability in players, and the stability of the shot action. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigating the results of treatment.

How Fit Are Special Operations Police Officers? A Comparison With Elite Athletes From Olympic Disciplines

The diverse tasks of special operations police (SOP) units place high physical demands on every officer. Being fit for duty requires a wide range of motor abilities which must be trained regularly and in a structured manner. But SOP operators have to plan and manage large proportions of their training alone, which makes it difficult to control. Therefore, this study aimed to highlight strengths and deficits of the SOP operators' fitness by comparing them to elite athletes, and to define future training goals. Retrospective data of 189 male SOP operators were used, who completed several isometric strength tests, a graded exercise test to determine maximal oxygen uptake, and countermovement jumps to determine leg muscle power. On the basis of a literature search, performance data were then compared to a total of 3,028 elite male athletes from 36 Summer Olympic disciplines. Pooled means and standard deviations were calculated for each discipline and effect sizes were used to analyze their similarities and differences to the SOP unit. On average, SOP operators were taller, heavier, and stronger than elite athletes. But both the ability to convert this strength into explosive movement and aerobic power was significantly less developed. From this point of view, SOP operators should consider polarized endurance training to work efficiently on improving aerobic performance. In addition, regular plyometric training seems necessary to improve leg muscle power and agility.