Effectiveness of m-health-based core strengthening exercise and health education for public safety workers with chronic non-specific low back pain: study protocol for a superiority randomized controlled trial (SAFEBACK).

BACKGROUND: Low back pain (LBP) is the leading cause of years lived with disability worldwide. Public safety workers are highly exposed to physically demanding activities and inappropriate postures, increasing the risk of experiencing LBP. Smartphone app-based self-managed interventions may be an alternative for chronic non-specific LBP (CNSLBP) treatment. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a smartphone app-based self-managed exercise program plus health education, compared to a health education program alone, on neuromuscular and perceptual outcomes in police officers and firefighters with CNSLBP. METHODS: This is a parallel, two-armed, blinded evaluator randomized clinical trial. Police officers and firefighters (from public safety institutions in the Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil) will be randomly assigned to a m-health self-managed exercise program (twice a week) plus health education or health education alone. Self-management exercise program components are mobility and core resistance exercises, available on the app. Follow-ups will be conducted post-treatment (8 weeks) and 16 weeks after randomization. The co-primary outcomes will be pain intensity and disability post-treatment (8 weeks). Secondary outcomes will be biopsychosocial factors related to CNSLBP. DISCUSSION: We hypothesize that the effects of a smartphone app-based self-managed exercise program on co-primary and secondary outcomes will be superior, compared to the health education only in public safety workers with CNSLBP. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was prospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05481996. Registered on August 01, 2022).

Chronic low back pain prevalence in Federal Highway Police Officers: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Police officers are exposed to specific occupational tasks, which require lifting, trunk flexion and rotation, carrying weight, and frequent standing periods, which may be associated with an increased risk of experiencing low back pain (LBP). OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence and intensity of chronic LBP (CLBP) in Brazilian Federal Highway Police officers (FHPO) from the Rio Grande do Sul state and evaluate its associated factors. METHODS: A total of 208 FHPOs participated in this study. The participants answered an electronic questionnaire containing sociodemographic, behavioral, and occupational questions, and CLBP history. Data analysis comprises descriptive statistics and Poisson regression models. RESULTS: Most of the FHPO were male, aged 41 or more, lived with a partner and were physically active. Sixty-seven percent of FHPO had CLBP, and the median pain intensity was 3.0 (IQR = 0- 5). Participants who lived with a partner were less likely to report CLBP (PR = 0.80; 95% CI = 0.64; 0.99). On the other hand, those who worked as FHPO for more than 11 years were more likely to report CLPB (PR = 1.32; 95% CI = 1.06; 1.63), and high pain intensity (ß= 0.95; 95% CI = 0.19; 1.71). CONCLUSIONS: The high CLBP prevalence among FHPO from Rio Grande do Sul state indicates a need to highlight the importance for police organizations to promote CLBP prevention and implement workplace management programs.

High-velocity resistance training mitigates physiological and functional impairments in middle-aged and older adults with and without mobility-limitation.

The aim of the present study was to compare the neuromuscular, morphological, and functional responses to a high-velocity resistance training (HVRT) program between three cohorts: middle-aged adults (40-55 years, n = 18), healthy older adults (> 60 years, n = 18), and mobility-limited older adults (n = 8). Participants were tested before and after a 4-week control period and then assigned to a 12-week HVRT intervention. Investigated outcomes included ultrasound-derived muscle thickness and quality, maximal dynamic strength (1RM), maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), and muscle activation (sEMG), as well as muscle power and functional performance. After the intervention, quadriceps muscle thickness, 1RM, and sEMG improved in all three groups (all p < 0.05), whereas muscle quality improved only in middle-aged and older participants (p ≤ 0.001), and MVIC only in middle-aged and mobility-limited older adults (p < 0.05). With a few exceptions, peak power improved in all groups from 30-90% 1RM (p < 0.05) both when tested relative to pre-training or post-training 1RM workloads (all p < 0.05). Both mobility-limited older adults and older adults improved their short physical performance battery score (p < 0.05). Chair stand, stair climb, maximal gait speed, and timed up-and-go performance, on the other hand, improved in all three groups (p < 0.05), but no change was observed for habitual gait speed and 6-min walk test performance. Overall, our results demonstrate that a HVRT intervention can build a stronger foundation in middle-aged individuals so that they can better deal with age-related impairments at the same time that it can mitigate already present physiological and functional impairments in older adults with and without mobility-limitation.

Effects of Personal Protective Equipment on the Performance of Federal Highway Policemen in Physical Fitness Tests.

Marins, EF, Cabistany, L, Bartel, C, Dawes, J, and Del Vecchio, FB. Effects of personal protective equipment on the performance of Federal Highway Policemen in physical fitness tests. J Strength Cond Res 34(1): 11-19, 2020-Personal protective equipment (PPE), worn by police officers, provides protection and can modify physiological and performance responses during physical efforts. Physiological, perceptual, and physical responses were compared with PPE (WPPE) and without PPE (NPPE) among the Brazilian Federal Highway Policemen (FHP). Nineteen (n = 19) FHP completed 2 experimental trials: NPPE and WPPE (load = 8.3 kg). Tests of aerobic and anaerobic power, muscular strength and endurance, as well as change of direction speed (CODS) were performed under both conditions. Heart rate reductions were shown at the second ventilatory threshold (1.4%) and maximal exercise (1.5%) WPPE. In comparison with NPPE, physical performance in the WPPE condition showed decreases in the following: treadmill time at maximal exercise (21%, p < 0.001); time in the isometric trunk test (28.9%, p < 0.001); vertical jump height (11.6 and 10.5%, p < 0.001); standing long jump distance (7.3%, p < 0.001); bar hang time (14.8%, p < 0.05); and CODS (2.6%, p < 0.05). Results indicate that PPE use reduces physical performance of FHP in cardiorespiratory, strength, power, and CODS tests.

Characterization of the Physical Fitness of Police Officers: A Systematic Review.

Marins, EF, David, GB, and Del Vecchio, FB. Characterization of the physical fitness of police officers: a systematic review. J Strength Cond Res 33(10): 2860-2874, 2019-Physical fitness tests (e.g., aerobic power, muscular endurance, and flexibility tests) are commonly used to assess the ability of police officers to perform work-related tasks. The purpose of this study was to describe, from a systematic literature review, data related to police physical fitness. The research was conducted in 5 electronic databases to search for original studies that measured physical fitness (aerobic and anaerobic capacity, strength, endurance, power, flexibility, agility, and speed) of police officers, as well as the article references. Original studies assessing objective measures of physical fitness in police officers were included, with no date restriction. Fifty-nine articles were included in the review. The studies mostly measured cardiorespiratory fitness indirectly, strength, and muscular endurance, as well as other performance components (body composition, power, flexibility, speed, agility, and anaerobic profile), with police officers generally presenting values similar or above the average of the general population. It can be concluded that intervention studies are needed to promote and incorporate programs related to improvement or maintenance of physical fitness in police officers, which would result in health benefits and specifically improvement in performance of specific tasks of police work. This review provides summary information to assist in the selection of physical fitness tests for police populations. Still, these findings have practical applications for public security agencies and its personnel responsible for the development and implementation of physical programs in policemen population.