Implementation of High Intensity Interval Training and Autoregulatory Progressive Resistance Exercise in a Law...

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Sports Science
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Police work demands high physical fitness and occupational physical ability.
• Current police academy training may not optimize physical conditioning for cadets.
• Novel training methodologies like APRE and HIIT warrant investigation for enhanced cadet preparedness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and efficacy of implementing autoregulatory progressive resistance exercise (APRE) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in police cadets.
• To compare the effects of APRE and HIIT versus standard care on physical fitness and occupational performance.
• To evaluate the internal training load associated with these methodologies.

Main Methods:

• A 17-week intervention comparing a standard care (SC) group with a high-performance (HP) group utilizing APRE and HIIT.
• Data collection included anthropometrics, fitness outcomes (1.5-mile run, bench press 1RM, push-ups, sit-ups, 300m run), and occupational physical ability test (OPAT) at academy entrance, midpoint, and exit.
• Mixed-factor repeated measures ANOVA analyzed performance outcome differences between groups and over time.

Main Results:

• Both groups showed significant fitness improvements (p<0.05), with the HP group exhibiting superior gains in push-ups (p<0.001).
• Occupational Physical Ability Test (OPAT) performance initially improved then declined from baseline to exit in both groups (p<0.05).
• The HP group reported lower session rating of perceived exertion (RPE) values (p<0.01), indicating greater efficiency.

Conclusions:

• APRE and HIIT methodologies are feasible for implementation in police cadet training programs.
• These advanced training methods can yield comparable fitness and occupational performance improvements to standard training but at a reduced internal training load.
• The findings suggest that APRE and HIIT offer an efficient approach to enhance police cadet physical readiness.