Logo image
Persistent Disability From Preacademy Injuries Impairs Physical Performance in Police Force Recruits: A Cross-sectional Study
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Persistent Disability From Preacademy Injuries Impairs Physical Performance in Police Force Recruits: A Cross-sectional Study

Vanessa R. Sutton, Paola T. Chivers, Nicolas H. Hart, Jodie L. Cochrane Wilkie, Garth Allen and Myles C. Murphy
JOSPT Open, Vol.2(2), pp.141-147
15/04/2024
pdf
Persistent Disability From Preacademy Injuries Impairs Physical Performance9.07 MBDownloadView
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0 Open Access
url
Persistent Disability From Preacademy Injuries Impairs Physical PerformanceView
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0 Open

Related links

Metrics

28 Record Views

Abstract

epidemiology injury police recruits
OBJECTIVES: To assess the relationship between injury history and persistent disability with cardiorespiratory fitness and workplace-specific functional capacity. DESIGN: Cross-sectional cohort study. METHODS: Western Australia Police Force recruits were invited to participate between January and October 2022. Participants completed an online survey recording demographics, injured body regions in past 12 months, and persistent injury-related disability. Physical performance was assessed immediately prior to academy training via beep test and policing-specific physical performance evaluation (PPE). Generalized linear models were used to statistically evaluate relationships between the data. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-one recruits had complete physical performance data available and completed our survey (response rate = 58%). Almost half of participants reported at least 1 injury within 12 months prior to academy commencement. Of those, persistent disability ranged from 0% to 40% (mean [standard deviation] disability composite, 3.17% [6.48%]). Persistent disability was significantly related to PPE ( β = 12.3, P<.001). No significant relationships were detected between persistent disability and beep test ( β = −.03, P =.187), injury history and beep test ( β = −.13, P = .177), or PPE ( β = 2.70, P = .192). CONCLUSION: Persistent injury-related disability was a barrier to full occupation-specific performance and was significantly associated with poorer police-specific performance metrics. Identifying the prevalence of persistent disability in recruits prior to commencement and delivering interventions that would minimize disability may improve recruit occupational performance.

Details

Logo image