Implementation of High Intensity Interval Training and Autoregulatory Progressive Resistance Exercise in a Law Enforcement Training Academy

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the feasibility and efficacy of implementing autoregulatory progressive resistance exercise (APRE) and high intensity interval training (HIIT) methodologies to improve physical fitness and occupational physical ability in police cadets. Two law enforcement academy classes were stratified into a standard care academy training cohort (SC; n=32, m=27, f=5) and a high performance cohort (HP; n=31; m=27, f=4) that utilized APRE and HIIT methodologies during a 17-week academy training program. Demographic, internal loading parameters, anthropometric, fitness outcomes (i.e., 1.5-mile run, 1-repetition maximum bench press, sit-up repetitions, push-up repetitions, & 300m run) and timed completion of a occupation physical ability test (OPAT) were collected at three academy time points (entrance, mid-point and exit). Mixed factor (time vs. group) repeated measures ANOVA were used to evaluate the effects of the training intervention on performance outcomes. Significance was set at p<0.05. Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in all fitness outcomes except the OPAT from entrance to exit tests (p<0.05). The HP experienced greater improvements in push-up performance compared to the SC (p<0.001). OPAT time decreased in both groups from entrance to midpoint, but significantly increased from baseline to exit (p<.05). Despite similar inter-group fitness improvements, the HP reported lower session RPE values (p<0.01), indicating fitness adaptations occurred at a lower internal load. This study demonstrated the feasibility of successfully implementing APRE and HIIT methodologies within a cadet population. Furthermore, these methodologies produced similar improvements in cadet fitness and occupational performance at a lower internal load.