Law Enforcement And Firefighter Physical Activity Study

Law enforcement and firefighters serve a vital, yet stressful, role in maintaining community safety. They suffer from health problems including chronic disease, stress, and sleep disorders, which may negatively impact their health. Among other working populations, physical activity (PA) has been shown to provide health benefits, but limited research exists in this population. PURPOSE: To examine the relationships between PA levels and measures of health in firefighters and law enforcement officers. METHODS: Participants were assessed for PA via the Fitbit Flex and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Body mass index was measured using height and weight measurements. Other health measures were assessed via validated questionnaires. Pearson correlations were used to determine the relationships between PA and measures of health. RESULTS: Participants (N = 51; 35.1 ± 10.5 y; 88% M; 80% White) demonstrated vigorous physical activity (VPA) had a significant moderate, negative association with BMI (r = -.31, p < .05), systolic (r = -.29, p < .05) and diastolic blood pressure (r = -.28, p < .05). BMI was negatively correlated with sleep quality (r = -.46, p < .01), and positively related with systolic (r = .97, p < .01), and diastolic (r = .97, p < .01) blood pressures. Waist-to-hip ratio was significantly correlated with occupational moderate intensity PA (r = .32, p < .05), general fatigue (r = -.35, p < .01), mental fatigue (r = - .32, p < .05), and sleep (r = -.31, p < .05). Stress and the mental quality of life had a significant, negative relationship (r = -.40, p < .01). Walking and personal accomplishment (r = .34, p < .05) had a significant moderate, positive association. Burnout was moderately, significantly correlated with secondary traumatic stress (r = .46, p < .01), emotional exhaustion (r = .40, p < .01), and depersonalization (r = .31, p < .05). CONCLUSION: Job demand stressors for law enforcement officers and firefighters are negatively related to their health. It is critical to develop programming to improve measures of health in this population. Pilot study findings provide evidence there are health benefits from PA among law enforcement and firefighters. Future studies should focus on worksite-based PA interventions to understand better the impacts of PA on the health status of these professionals.