A combined training program's effect on anthropometry, body composition, physical fitness and blood pressure in elite police

BacKGround: combined training (cT) simultaneously associates aerobic and strength exercises. Worldwide, studies on cT's on police officers' physical fitness are scarce. This study aims to measure a 4-month CT program's impact in the Close Protection Unit of the Portuguese elite police. MeThodS: a pre-and post-test study included 32 participants (mean age 30.1±2.7 years old). anthropometry, body composition, physical fitness, and blood pressure assessments were collected. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, 26.0; SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) with a significance level at P≤0.05. reSulTS: The main results showed an improvement in anthropometrics; aerobic capacity, strength, muscular endurance, and systolic blood pressure. however, a lean mass decrease, a fat mass increase, and worse results in other bioimpedance measures were observed. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the poor body composition results may imply a closer look for health concerns, although physical fitness has improved. Thus, it might be suggested that a CT program is helpful to increase physical fitness in elite police officers. Yet, improvements for its future application can be suggested, namely to include and address hydration level, nutrition, and rest/sleep moments. Moreover, because a high physical fitness level is needed in these population throughout their lifespan, ministerial policies should develop specific training programs, that can reduce morbidity and premature mortality, and have a major cost-effectiveness impact on public health.