I had this article from policeone.com forwarded to me by a cop and it's a great read. Basically it highlights what some forward thinking agencies in Wisconsin have done (it was written in 2011) to update their approach to physical fitness. In the end they teamed up with Southwest Wisconsin Technical College and some local fitness centers to create fitness plans that addressed in the line of duty situations. After reading through the article it got me thinking "What are the areas of physical fitness that I actually use on the job?" This list is not exhaustive by any means but this is what crossed my mind. If you can think of anything add it to the list.
Sprinting: Whether it's running for cover or chasing down suspects there are times in police work when you gotta get there fast. So it's surprising how few cops are doing wind sprints. Sprinting is not only a matter of survival but it's overall effect on your cardiovascular health is impressive. Furthermore, doing these types of high intensity, short interval sprints can have a dramatic effect on your weight loss too.
Grip Strength: So you have chased your boy down and seeing your superior athletic ability he stops. What do you do next? Grab him and ground him. This is where having a strong grip comes into play. If your grip is weak, you are weak. Because your grip is the link between your strength and your opponent. Quite literally where we reach out and 'touch' somebody. On a related note grip strength is big when it comes to firearms as well. Having a good grip allows you to have a consistent and smooth trigger pull when you are fatigued.
Static holds: This one is similar to grip strength. Again think real world stuff here. You might be too tough to admit it but it can be taxing on your shoulders to hold your handgun in the 'punch out' position for any extended period of time. Sure if you are on some kind of barricaded suspect or stand off you would ideally find something to rest on but that is not always the case. It's even worse if you get stuck with the shield too.
Flexibility/Injury prevention: I put these two together because they go hand in hand. Wearing a bulletproof vest and a weighted belt around your waist are unique challenges. In addition unlike the athlete who gets to warm up before his event we have to respond at a moment's notice, often times sitting in a police car. We won't get the chance to stretch before we act so we have to be proactive and preventative by stretching throughout the day so we can stay limber/flexible.
Core Strength: Your core is not just your abs and having six pack abs says nothing about your core strength, only your bodyfat percentage. Remember the core is your abs, lower back and hips. Having these muscles strong and balanced will help your body maintain a natural and strong position. Lower back injuries are almost a disease for police.
Aerobic exercise: Remember that aerobic basically means 'with air'. That is exercise you can maintain over a relatively longer period. Think your traditional endurance exercises like running, biking and swimming. This is the point where most cops say "When am I ever going to chase somebody for a mile and a half?" Well never, but that is a way to train your body to be able outlast the bad guy. Yes most fights are over in a matter of seconds but others can drag on.
No comments:
Post a Comment