Leg power as a predictor of injury & illness risk in police recruits

LEG POWER AS A PREDICTOR OF INJURY AND ILLNESS RISK IN POLICE RECRUITS

Presenter: Pope R

This module addresses:

Question: Does leg power, as measured by a vertical jump, predict injury

and illness risk in a police population?

Conclusion: Police recruits with lower VJ height are at a significantly

greater risk of suffering an injury or illness during police basic

recruit training.

Key Practice Points:

• Leg power is a useful predictor of injury and illness risk in recruits

undergoing police training and potentially in other tactical populations.

• Increasing leg power in new recruits about to undergo police training my

reduce their risk of injury or illness.

• Further research is required to assess the extent to which leg power is

causal in these relationships.