NCJ Number
55899
Journal
Journal of Occupational Medicine Volume: 20 Issue: 6 Dated: (JUNE 1978)
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF PHYSICAL TESTING OF A SAMPLE OF DALLAS (TEX.) AREA POLICE OFFICERS TO DETERMINE THE PHYSICAL FITNESS AND THE RATE OF RISK OF CORONARY HEART DISEASE ARE REPORTED.
Abstract
THE SAMPLE TESTED CONSISTED OF 213 MALE VOLUNTEER POLICE OFFICERS FROM DALLAS AND RICHARDSON (TEX.,) POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY. THE OFFICERS WERE BETWEEN 21 AND 52 YEARS OF AGE, WITH A MEAN AGE OF 31.8 YEARS AND FREE FROM KNOWN CARDIOVASCULAR OR OTHER SERIOUS DISEASES OR DISABILITIES. OFFICERS WERE EVALUATED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE TEST AND AGAIN AFTER 20 WEEKS OF PHYSICAL TRAINING. THIS REPORT PRESENTS NORMATIVE DATA FROM THE INITIAL TESTING; RESULTS FROM THE VARIOUS PHYSICAL TRAINING REGIMENS ARE PRESENTED IN ANOTHER REPORT. ALL OFFICERS COMPLETED A MEDICAL HISTORY QUESTIONNAIRE WHICH INCLUDED INFORMATION ON HEALTH STATUS, FAMILY HISTORY OF HEART DISEASE, SMOKING HABITS, AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PATTERN. SUBJECTS WERE TESTED ON A TREADMILL AND FOR SERUM CHOLESTEROL, SERUM TRIGLYCERIDE, SERUM GLUCOSE, AND URIC ACID. HEART RATE AND BLOOD PRESSURE WERE MEASURED UNDER VARYING CONDITIONS; BODY COMPOSITION AND RESPIRATORY PROCESSES WERE DETERMINED. VARIOUS MOTOR ABILITY FIELD TESTS WERE ADMINISTERED TO REPRESENT AREAS OF PHYSICAL FITNESS THAT MAY ENHANCE THE PERFORMANCE OF A POLICE OFFICER WHEN CHALLENGED PHYSICALLY. RESULTS SHOWED THAT YOUNGER POLICE OFFICERS (LESS THAN 30 YEARS OF AGE) WERE AVERAGE IN PHYSICAL FITNESS LEVELS AND CORONARY HEART DISEASE RISK COMPARED TO THE POPULATION OF THE SAME AGE. MIDDLE-AGED POLICE OFFICERS WERE SHOWN TO BE LOWER IN PHYSICAL FITNESS LEVELS AND HIGHER IN CORONARY HEART DISEASE RISK COMPARED TO THEIR COHORTS. RESULTS FROM THE INVESTIGATION REVEAL THE NEED FOR PHYSICAL FITNESS AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE PROGRAMS FOR POLICE OFFICERS. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (RCB)