Lower-body Power and its Relationship with Body Drag Velocity in Law Enforcement Recruits

International Journal of Exercise Science 12(4): 847-858, 2019. The body drag (BD) is used as a test to measure a law enforcement officer (LEO) recruit’s capability to rescue an individual. However, the physical characteristics associated with faster BD performance have not been identified. It could be expected that lower- body power, often measured via jump performance, could positively relate to BD performance. This study investigated the relationship between the vertical jump (VJ), peak anaerobic power measured in watts (PAPw), power-to-body mass ratio (P:BM), standing broad jump (SBJ), and relative SBJ, with BD velocity in LEO recruits. Retrospective analysis of data from 94 (male=71, female=23) recruits from one law enforcement agency were used. PAPw and P:BM ratio were derived from VJ, and relative SBJ from SBJ distance. The BD involved dragging a 75- kg dummy backwards 9.75 m, with velocity derived from distance traveled over time. Pearson’s correlations (p≤0.05) calculated the relationship between variables and BD velocity. A stepwise linear regression determined predictive relationships between the jump variables and BD velocity. BD velocity demonstrated a small significant relationship with the VJ (r=.209), a large significant relationship with PAPw (r=.568), and a moderate significant relationship with P:BM (r=.489). Large and moderate significant relationships with SBJ (r=.609) and relative SBJ (r=.426) were also identified. The regression model of sex, SBJ, and PAPw explained 67% of the variance. Horizontal power, and power generated relative to body mass, contribute to a faster BD. This suggests that recruits should add complete power exercises such as SBJ and VJ to their training to prepare for this task