CHANGE OF DIRECTION SPEED UNDER TWO LOADING CONDITIONS AMONG FEMALE POLICE OFFICERS: ASSOCIATION WITH BODY MORPHOLOGY

Abstract

Change of direction speed (CODS) is an important performance ability for police officers. This is even more emphasized when officers perform tasks while carrying their occupational load (e.g., protective vest, weapon, radio, cuffs, etc.). The absolute weight of the equipment remains the same regardless of officer’s body size and weight, which is of importance for female police officers whose morphology is different than in males. This study investigated the associations between selected measures of body morphology and CODS among female police officers under two loading conditions. The sample consisted of 29 female police officers (age = 32.00±5.09 yrs, body height = 162.92±5.01 cm, and body mass = 70.88±13.42 kg). Anthropometric variables included height, weight, and body mass index (BMI), while body composition characteristics included percent body fat, (PBF), percentage of skeletal muscle mass (PSMM), and index of hypokinesia (IH). CODS was assessed using the Illinois agility tests under loaded (LIAT) (10 kg vest) and unloaded (IAT) conditions. Participants’ CODS times were significantly slower in the LIAT condition (p < 0.001). IAT correlated to BMI (r=0.479, p<0.05), PBF (r=0.647, p<0.001), PSMM (r=-0.655, p≤0.001), and IH (r=0.462, p<0.05). Similarly, LIAT was associated with BMI (r=0.446, p<0.05), PBF (r=0.651, p<0.001), PSMM (r=-0.672, p<0.001), and IH (r= 0.503, p<0.01). These findings highlight the need for developing specific physical training programs aimed at improving and maintaining healthy body composition levels among female officers if improved CODS is the goal.