Special Issue "Wellness Interventions for Sustainable Healthy Lifestyles Promotion in Tactical Populations"

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Health and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2021.

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Gianpiero Greco
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Study of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy
2. Department of Public Security, State Police, Ministry of the Interior, Milan headquarters, 20123 Milan, Italy
Interests: exercise; wellbeing; physical activity; physical fitness; psychological fitness; human performance; healthy lifestyle; tactical population
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Tactical populations, such as police officers, firefighters, emergency responders, and military personnel, require a high level of physical preparation to be able to perform their job tasks. However, the sedentary nature of certain tactical occupations can significantly reduce personnel fitness levels. As such, even though tactical professions require a high level of fitness, maintaining this fitness may be difficult during work hours. Furthermore, shift work, which is common in tactical occupations, can reduce the desire to exercise. The downstream effect of this lower level of workday physical activity can be seen in higher levels of obesity and higher BMI scores in police officers, firefighters, and military personnel in comparison to the general population. For this reason, tactical populations have a high risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease. Stress, poor nutrition, sedentary behaviors, cigarette smoking, and shift work all have an additive effect, leading to a higher potential for chronic diseases. Fitness programs can successfully target these risk factors with an evidence-based approach. Physical training and nutritional intervention to improve fitness have associated health benefits, such as reducing obesity and the risk of cardiovascular disease.

This Special Issue offers an opportunity to focus on the impact of physical activity, exercise, and nutrition on chronic disease prevention and psychophysical health in tactical populations, from the perspective of sustainability. A wide range of topics will be included in this issue related, but not limited, to the physical and mental wellbeing of employees; the implementation and effectiveness of fitness programs in the workplace; the engagement of managers in health initiatives, promoting sustainable healthy lifestyles for employees; health and wellbeing education interventions in workplace settings; and the impact of wellness interventions on work engagement and performance and/or productivity. Investigators that have researched these topics are invited to submit reviews and descriptive or experimental studies for consideration for this Special Issue of Sustainability.

Dr. Gianpiero Greco
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • Tactical population
  • Physical activity
  • Exercise
  • Health
  • Wellbeing
  • Nutrition
  • Sustainable lifestyle
  • Disease prevention
  • Fitness
  • Occupational health

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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Article
Dimensionality Reduction Differentiates Sensitive Force-Time Characteristics from Loaded and Unloaded Conditions throughout Competitive Military Training
Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 6105; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13116105 - 28 May 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 585
Abstract
The purpose was to evaluate neuromuscular fatigue’s effect on unloaded and loaded countermovement jump (CMJ) force-time characteristics during high-intensity tactical training. Eighteen male and sixteen female Marines completed two maximal effort CMJs, in unloaded (PVC pipe) and loaded (10 kg weight vest and [...] Read more.
The purpose was to evaluate neuromuscular fatigue’s effect on unloaded and loaded countermovement jump (CMJ) force-time characteristics during high-intensity tactical training. Eighteen male and sixteen female Marines completed two maximal effort CMJs, in unloaded (PVC pipe) and loaded (10 kg weight vest and 20 kg barbell) conditions, prior to, and 24, 48, and 72 h after starting the 4-day event. The top three variables from three principal components (PC) were analyzed using mixed-effects modeling (PC1—concentric mean power, eccentric peak force, and modified reactive strength index; PC2—countermovement depth, eccentric mean power, and eccentric mean velocity; PC3—braking duration, jump height, peak power). Metrics from PC1 and PC3 were reduced across training and from both loading conditions. Metrics from PC2 were similarly affected by external loading but were less influenced by training-induced fatigue. Jump performances with the barbell and with shallower countermovement depths did not change throughout training. Thus, 20 kg loaded CMJs are stable neuromuscular measures suitable for tracking chronic training adaptations. Monitoring unloaded and 10 kg loaded CMJ performances, along with movement strategies (i.e., countermovement rates and depth), may help identify moments of accumulated fatigue to inform training and recovery adjustments and improve the sustainability of personnel. Full article
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Article
Developing the Fitness of Law Enforcement Recruits during Academy Training
Sustainability 2020, 12(19), 7944; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12197944 - 25 Sep 2020
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 631
Abstract
Law enforcement is an intermittently physically demanding job, interspersed with long periods of sedentary activity. To prepare for the physical demands of the job, law enforcement agencies enlist recruits into academies with a focus on physical training. Often, academies focus on aerobic-based exercise [...] Read more.
Law enforcement is an intermittently physically demanding job, interspersed with long periods of sedentary activity. To prepare for the physical demands of the job, law enforcement agencies enlist recruits into academies with a focus on physical training. Often, academies focus on aerobic-based exercise despite anaerobic fitness being strongly correlated to occupational tasks. The objective of this article is to analyze the changes in the fitness of police recruits during academy training. Initial and final fitness test results, encompassing muscular power, strength, endurance as well as aerobic and anaerobic fitness, were measured to analyze changes in fitness. Dependent t-tests showed significant increases (p < 0.05) across all fitness tests, with a trend towards larger increases in aerobic and muscle-endurance-based tests. Recruits from this academy tended to have higher fitness results compared to other academies and were either average or below average compared to age-matched standards in the general population. Physical training should persist for recruits beyond the academy to continue to develop fitness throughout their career. Academies should add a focus on muscular strength and power training as these measures relate to occupational tasks, which may better prepare recruits for demands they will be expected to face in the field. Full article
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Article
Impact of an 11-Week Strength and Conditioning Program on Firefighter Trainee Fitness
Sustainability 2020, 12(16), 6541; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12166541 - 13 Aug 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1376
Abstract
Physical fitness is an important aspect of physical health and wellbeing. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of 11-weeks of formal strength and conditioning training conducted during fire academy training on the physical fitness characteristics of firefighter trainees. Archived [...] Read more.
Physical fitness is an important aspect of physical health and wellbeing. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of 11-weeks of formal strength and conditioning training conducted during fire academy training on the physical fitness characteristics of firefighter trainees. Archived physical fitness data for 23 male fire academy trainees (age: 27.6 ± 4.3 y; height: 178.5 ± 6.9 cm; body mass [BM]: 83.9 ± 1.8 kg; BM index [BMI]: 26.8 ± 2.8 kg/m2) were analyzed for this study. These data included vertical jump height, maximum pull-up repetitions, hand grip strength, lower-body strength (3RM Hexbar) and aerobic fitness. Trainees performed three sessions per week (two resistance training sessions and one aerobic conditioning session) in addition to fire academy training. A repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant (p < 0.05) pre-post decreases in BM and BMI and significant increases in upper- and lower-body strength, and aerobic fitness. Strength and conditioning programs are beneficial for improving firefighter trainees’ physical fitness even when run concurrently with fire academy training and with limited space and equipment. This increased fitness may aid in mitigating known occupational injury risks to this population and improve task performance. Full article
Article
Association between Body Fat Percentage and Physical Performance in Male Korean Police Officers
Sustainability 2020, 12(9), 3868; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12093868 - 09 May 2020
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 625
Abstract
Body composition can affect a police officer’s physical performance. We analyzed the correlation between body fat percentage (%fat) and physical performance in 326 male Korean police officers (age, 44.2 ± 9.2 years; height, 174.0 ± 4.5 cm; weight, 76.4 ± 8.8 kg) who [...] Read more.
Body composition can affect a police officer’s physical performance. We analyzed the correlation between body fat percentage (%fat) and physical performance in 326 male Korean police officers (age, 44.2 ± 9.2 years; height, 174.0 ± 4.5 cm; weight, 76.4 ± 8.8 kg) who were classified into two groups according to their %fat: high-fat (HFG, %fat ≥ 25%; n = 135) and low-fat (LFG, %fat < 25%; n = 191). Physical performance tests included a 100-m sprint, push-ups, sit-ups, and a hand-grip strength test. The results showed significant differences in performance between the groups in the 100-m sprint (p = 0.001) and in the sit-up test (p = 0.033), but not for push-ups (p = 0.130) or hand-grip strength (p = 0.255). A significant positive correlation was found between %fat and the 100-m sprint (r = 0.255, p < 0.000), and a negative correlation was found between %fat and push-ups (r = −0.117, p = 0.035) and sit-ups (r = −0.199, p < 0.000). However, there was no significant correlation between %fat and hand-grip strength (r = −0.093, p = 0.095). To improve physical performance, an intervention training program is recommended for reducing %fat, because high levels of %fat in male Korean police officers were associated with low levels of physical performance. Full article

Review

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Review
Conservative Interventions for Non-Specific Low Back Pain in Tactical Populations: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Sustainability 2020, 12(19), 7922; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12197922 - 24 Sep 2020
Viewed by 553
Abstract
Limited evidence exists about non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) interventions among tactical personnel (police officers, firefighters, or army forces). The aim was to identify and systematically review the findings of randomized control trials (RCTs) investigating conservative interventions for the treatment NSLBP in tactical [...] Read more.
Limited evidence exists about non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) interventions among tactical personnel (police officers, firefighters, or army forces). The aim was to identify and systematically review the findings of randomized control trials (RCTs) investigating conservative interventions for the treatment NSLBP in tactical personnel. A search of seven databases for randomized controlled trials RCTs were conducted. Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed the risk of bias (PEDro scale). Five RCTs (n = 387 military subjects; median PEDro score = 7/10) were included. The trials were highly heterogeneous, differing in pain and disability outcome measures, duration of NSLBP symptoms (acute, nonacute, nonchronic, and chronic), types of intervention (exercise, manual therapy, and physical therapy), types of control groups, and intervention durations (4–12 weeks). Two studies reported that strengthening exercise interventions were not effective for reducing pain or disability in military personnel with chronic or nonacute NSLBP. Manual therapy treatment was more effective than usual activities in current pain and pain typical symptoms in soldiers with acute NSLBP after four weeks. A multidimensional intervention reduced disability in military personnel with non-chronic NSLBP after four weeks. Strong evidence does not exist for the efficacy of any conservative interventions in the reduction of pain and disability in tactical populations with NSLBP. Full article
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