Change of direction speed under two loading conditions among female police officers: Association with body morphology

Quincy Johnson; Filip Kukić; Aleksandar Čvorović; Nenad Koropanovski; Robin Orr; Robert Lockie; Jay Dawes

doi:10.52165/kinsi.29.2.5-16

Authors

Quincy Johnson University of Nebraska at Kearney, Kearney, NE, USA
Filip Kukić Police Sports Education Center, Abu Dhabi Police, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Aleksandar Čvorović Police Sports Education Center, Abu Dhabi Police, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Nenad Koropanovski University of Criminal Investigation and Police Studies, Belgrade, Serbia
Robin Orr Bond University, Tactical Research Unit, Robina, QLD, AUS
Robert Lockie California State University-Fullerton, Fullerton, California, USA
Jay Dawes

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52165/kinsi.29.2.5-16

Keywords:

agility, tactical athletes, law enforcement, body composition, physical performance

Abstract

Change of direction speed (CODS) is an important performance ability for police officers. This is even more emphasized when officers perform tasks while carrying their occupational load (e.g., protective vest, weapon, radio, cuffs, etc.). The absolute weight of the equipment remains the same regardless of the officer’s body size and weight, which is of importance for female police officers whose morphology is different than in males. This study investigated the associations between selected measures of the body morphology and CODS among female police officers under two loading conditions. The sample consisted of 29 female police officers (age = 32.00±5.09 yrs, body height = 162.92±5.01 cm, and body mass = 70.88±13.42 kg). Anthropometric variables included height, weight, and body mass index (BMI), while body composition characteristics included percent body fat, (PBF), percentage of skeletal muscle mass (PSMM), and index of hypokinesia (IH). CODS was assessed using the Illinois agility tests under loaded (LIAT) (10 kg vest) and unloaded (IAT) conditions. Participants CODS times were significantly slower in the LIAT condition (p < 0.001). IAT correlated to BMI (r=0.479, p<0.05), PBF (r=0.647, p<0.001), PSMM (r=-0.655, p≤0.001), and IH (r=0.462, p<0.05). Similarly, LIAT was associated with BMI (r=0.446, p<0.05), PBF (r=0.651, p<0.001), PSMM (r=-0.672, p<0.001), and IH (r= 0.503, p<0.01). These findings highlight the need for developing specific physical training programs aimed at improving and maintaining healthy body composition levels among female officers if improved CODS is the goal.

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