The Relationship between Aerobic Test Performance and Injuries in Police Recruits

Lower levels of fitness are associated with an increased risk of injury in police recruits. The aim of this study was to determine the relationships between initial aerobic performance assessments and injury risk during police recruit training. Retrospective data from 219 police recruits undergoing training program at a state police training academy, including 20-m Multistage Fitness Test (MSFT) and 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test (IFT) scores and injury data, were collected. Spearman's correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between levels of fitness (MSFT rs = - 0.292, p < 0.001: 30-15 IFT rs=-0.315, p < 0.001) and rates of injury. Furthermore, a Pearson's correlation showed a strong correlation between MSFT and the 30-15 IFT scores (r = 0.877, p < 0.001). Police recruits with lower fitness were at a higher risk of injury than those with higher fitness over the duration of a recruit training program. These findings indicate that aerobic performance assessments may be used by law enforcement agencies to estimate the relative risks of injury among cadets.