Relationships Between Tests of Strength, Power, and Speed and the 75-Yard Pursuit Run

Post, BK, Dawes, JJ, and Lockie, RG. Relationships between tests of strength, power, and speed and the 75-yard pursuit run. J Strength Cond Res 36(1): 99-105, 2022-The 75-yard pursuit run (75 PR) was designed to simulate a foot pursuit for law enforcement officers (LEOs). Currently, there has been no analysis of contributing physiological factors to performance in this test. The study purpose was to determine the relationships between the 75 PR and tests of linear speed, change-of-direction (COD) speed, and lower-body power and strength. Forty-three subjects (21 men and 22 women) completed 2 testing days. Day 1 consisted of the 75 PR, and linear speed (5- and 20-m sprint intervals) and lower-body power (standing broad jump, best lateral jump regardless of leg) tests. Day 2 included the COD speed (Illinois agility test [IAT], best 505 regardless of leg), lower-body power (vertical jump [VJ]), and strength (isometric mid-thigh pull: peak force, normalized peak force [nPF]) tests. Pearson's (men and women) and partial (combined controlling for sex) correlations (p < 0.05) determined relationships between the 75 PR and the performance tests. Significant relationships were found between the 75 PR and the jump tests (r = -0.53 to -0.68), 20-m sprint interval, IAT, and 505 (r = 0.55-0.82) in men, and between the 75 PR and the jump tests, nPF (r = -0.56 to -0.79), sprint intervals, IAT, and 505 in women (r = 0.54-0.84). When sexes were combined, significant relationships were observed between the 75 PR and the jump tests, nPF (r = -0.41 to -0.67), sprint intervals, IAT, and 505 (r = 0.43-0.78). Prospective LEOs should develop linear and COD speed, lower-body power, and relative strength to improve foot pursuit ability.