NCJ Number
57182
Date Published
1978
Length
30 pages
Annotation
TEST SCORES OF PHYSCIAL EDUCATION MAJORS AT MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY AND A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE REVEAL THAT, ALTHOUGH WOMEN GENERALLY DO NOT DO AS WELL AS MEN ON CHIN UPS AND PUSHUPS, TRAINING IMPROVES THEIR SCORES.
Abstract
EVERY YEAR MICHIGAN STATE TROOPERS MUST PASS AN EVALUATION OF PHYSICAL FITNESS WHICH INCLUDES 15 PUSHUPS AND 5 CONTINUOUS CHINUPS. IN 1978, MALE TROOPERS AVERAGED EIGHT CHINUPS; FEMALE FOUR CHINUPS, WITH THREE OF THE FIVE FEMALE OFFICERS DOING ZERO, ONE, AND TWO, RESPECTIVELY. TO DETERMINE IF THE CHINUP REQUIREMENTS FOR FEMALE TROOPERS WERE REASONABLE, A STUDY WAS CONDUCTED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN. FEMALE PHYSICAL EDUCATION MAJORS VARIED GREATLY IN THEIR ABILITY TO DO CHINUPS. THOSE WHO SPECIALIZED IN GYMNASTICS OR OTHER SPORTS WHICH DEVELOPED ARM AND SHOULDER STRENGTH DID EIGHT OR NINE WHILE MANY OTHER WERE UNABLE TO DO EVEN ONE. THOSE WHO FAILED WERE GENERALLY SURPRISED AT THIS LACK OF STRENGTH. IN CALIFORNIA, WOMEN HIGHWAY PATROL RECRUITS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED THEIR SCORES ON CHINUPS, SITUPS, PUSHUPS, BY UNDERGOING TARGETED PHYSICAL FITNESS TRAINING, GAINING STRENGTH AT THE RATE OF FOUR CHINUPS IN A 14-WEEK PERIOD. GREATER IMPROVEMENTS WERE OBTAINED WHEN THE PROGRAM ADDED PROGRESSIVE RESISTANCE WEIGHT TRAINING. SINCE CHINUPS AND PUSHUPS MEASURE IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF ARM AND SHOULDER STRENGTH, THIS REQUIREMENT SHOULD BE RETAINED, BUT TRAINING SHOULD BE OFFERED TO HELP ALL RECRUITS AND INSERVICE TROOPERS BUILD OR MAINTAIN THE REQUIRED MUSCLE TONE. THE REPORT CONTAINS BOTH STATISTICS AND REFERENCES. (GLR)