CLSE
09-02-2009, 02:57 PM
To add to all of the discussion, I decided to throw this in here. This should help answer some of the statements and questions regarding the scientific validity of the scores with some actual statements and numbers from people who are considered experts in the field.
I am posting quotes directly from "Common Questions Regarding Physical Fitness
Tests, Standards And Programs For Public Safety" (© www.cooperinstitute.org) http://www.cooperinstitute.org/education/law_enforcement/documents/LAWCommonlyAskedQuestions.pdf
This is published by the Cooper Institute, which is has set the "gold standard" for aerobic research, which the scores for the run, push-ups and sit-ups are pulled from ( https://kx.afms.mil/kxweb/dotmil/file/web/ctb_015759.pdf )
(NOTE - These items are numbered differently in the publication)
1) Is physical fitness job related and can it be scientifically valid?
Yes. Results of several public safety studies consistently show 20-30 strenuous/critical physical
tasks that are job related. These tasks are necessary to perform essential functions of the job.
There is ample data to document that physical fitness components are the underlying and predictive
factors for performing tasks such as:
Sustained Pursuit - Aerobic Power
Sprints - Anaerobic Power
Dodging - Aerobic/Anaerobic Power/Flexibility
Lifting and Carrying - Muscular Strength/Muscular Endurance/Anaerobic Power
Dragging and Pulling - Muscular Strength/Muscular Endurance/Anaerobic Power
Pushing - Muscular Strength/Muscular Endurance/Anaerobic Power
Jumping and Vaulting - Anaerobic Power/Leg Power and Strength
Crawling - Flexibility/Muscular Endurance/Body Fat Composition
Use of Force <2 minutes - Anaerobic Power/Muscular Strength/Muscular Endurance
Use of Force >2 minutes - Aerobic Power/Muscular Strength/Muscular Endurance
Comment - I would say that the ones in bold are the most common physical activity that I've seen in the Air Force, or that the vast majority of people in the Air Force might realistically see (sprints, crawling, etc. would be seen during convoy duty, base defense augmentee, etc.).
Sustained pursuit and Use of Force > 2 minutes are the only two things that list aerobic power, and the vast majority of people in the Air Force (I would venture to guess even the people who do convoy duty, etc.) will rarely, if ever, engage in those activities.
TACP, CCT, PJ and SF are the most likely, and they already account for that in their training.
And, for those of you that say that "Aerobic Conditioning is really important!!!" - See #2:
2) What fitness test battery accurately measures the underlying fitness areas?
Aerobic Capacity (Cardiorespiratory) - 1.5 Mile Run ***
Anaerobic Power (Sprinting Ability) - 300 Meter Run ***
Anaerobic Power (Explosive Leg Strength) - Vertical Jump***
Muscular Strength (Upper Body) - 1RM Bench Press ***
Muscular Endurance (Upper Body) - 1Minute Push Ups **
Muscular Endurance (Core Body) - 1 Minute Sit Ups **
Muscular Strength (Lower Body) - 1RM Leg Press*
Flexibility (Lower Back and Hamstrings) - Sit and Reach*
Body Composition (Percent Body Fat) - % Fat (caliper/underwater weighing/impedance)*
*** Is highly predictive of performing job tasks in all cases
** Is predictive of performing job tasks in most cases
* Is not predictive or is predictive in only a few cases
Comment - Notice that the 300 meter sprint is listed as being highly predictive of performing job tasks in all cases, just like the 1.5 mile run.
So why is it not an option on the test? It would provide a very simple solution to the problem of people who aren't good distance runners, but will still weed out the turds.
3) What about testing for body fat and flexibility?
These two fitness components do not function as significant predictors of a person’s ability to
perform essential tasks in public safety work. It is suggested that you continue testing for flexibility
to prevent injuries and to maintain good posture and muscle balance, but not use flexibility
testing as a standards qualification for selection, training or maintenance. Also, as long as aerobic
power and strength are measured, a body fat measure is not needed. It does not provide any additional
information about the ability to do the job and it is a “red flag” for potential ADA litigation
(as a handicapping condition). Body fat measurement can be provided as feedback to be factored
into an appearance evaluation within an academy setting or for an incumbent performance review,
but it should not be used as a “stand alone” fitness standard.
4) What about changing how a test is delivered such as cupping the ears or crossing the
hands over the chest for the sit up test?
The validity and accuracy of any test is compromised if the procedure for administering the test
is altered in any way. In other words, if a test protocol is changed, the test results are invalid. All
test protocols must be followed exactly in the same manner that was used to establish the norms.
The sit up test protocol requires the person to interlock the fingers and place them behind the
head. However, the trainee should be instructed not to pull on the neck and should be monitored
during the test. There is no data that demonstrates that individuals are injured during the sit up
test when proper screening and test protocols are followed.
Comment - The Air Force uses the Cooper Institute numbers for the "crunches" we do.
5) What about using percentile rankings of the fitness norms as standards?
No. Several years ago, CI recommended using age and gender norms using the 40th percentile for
academy entrance and 50th percentile for academy exit and incumbent standards. Because of legislative
changes requiring Same Job = Same Standard, CI began recommending a single standard
(either the general population norm set or a law enforcement norm set) again using the 40th percentile
for selection and 50th percentile for exit and maintenance. The age and gender norms and
single norms represent a ranking of fitness scores from the 99th to the 1st percentile. The percentile
scores (whether age and gender norms or single norms) have limited validity data for
predicting who can and who cannot do the job. Consequently, they pose problems if used as
a mandatory standard for selection, training or maintenance. They do not pose a significant legal
problem if used to set voluntary standards.
50th Percentile Standards from the latest I could find for males ( http://publicsafety.utah.gov/post/pdf/PT.pdf )
Age 20 - 29 30 - 39 40 - 49 50 - 59
Sit-ups 40 36 31 26
Push-ups 33 27 21 15
1.5 Mile Run 11:58 12:25 13:05 14:33
300 Meter Sprint 56 57 67.6 80
Comment - I put the 300 meter rpint numbers in there just for reference. Interesting that the Cooper Institute run times have 30 - 45 second time differences between age groups for all of the percentile rankings except for those in the 1st percentile.
Just some food for thought.
I am posting quotes directly from "Common Questions Regarding Physical Fitness
Tests, Standards And Programs For Public Safety" (© www.cooperinstitute.org) http://www.cooperinstitute.org/education/law_enforcement/documents/LAWCommonlyAskedQuestions.pdf
This is published by the Cooper Institute, which is has set the "gold standard" for aerobic research, which the scores for the run, push-ups and sit-ups are pulled from ( https://kx.afms.mil/kxweb/dotmil/file/web/ctb_015759.pdf )
(NOTE - These items are numbered differently in the publication)
1) Is physical fitness job related and can it be scientifically valid?
Yes. Results of several public safety studies consistently show 20-30 strenuous/critical physical
tasks that are job related. These tasks are necessary to perform essential functions of the job.
There is ample data to document that physical fitness components are the underlying and predictive
factors for performing tasks such as:
Sustained Pursuit - Aerobic Power
Sprints - Anaerobic Power
Dodging - Aerobic/Anaerobic Power/Flexibility
Lifting and Carrying - Muscular Strength/Muscular Endurance/Anaerobic Power
Dragging and Pulling - Muscular Strength/Muscular Endurance/Anaerobic Power
Pushing - Muscular Strength/Muscular Endurance/Anaerobic Power
Jumping and Vaulting - Anaerobic Power/Leg Power and Strength
Crawling - Flexibility/Muscular Endurance/Body Fat Composition
Use of Force <2 minutes - Anaerobic Power/Muscular Strength/Muscular Endurance
Use of Force >2 minutes - Aerobic Power/Muscular Strength/Muscular Endurance
Comment - I would say that the ones in bold are the most common physical activity that I've seen in the Air Force, or that the vast majority of people in the Air Force might realistically see (sprints, crawling, etc. would be seen during convoy duty, base defense augmentee, etc.).
Sustained pursuit and Use of Force > 2 minutes are the only two things that list aerobic power, and the vast majority of people in the Air Force (I would venture to guess even the people who do convoy duty, etc.) will rarely, if ever, engage in those activities.
TACP, CCT, PJ and SF are the most likely, and they already account for that in their training.
And, for those of you that say that "Aerobic Conditioning is really important!!!" - See #2:
2) What fitness test battery accurately measures the underlying fitness areas?
Aerobic Capacity (Cardiorespiratory) - 1.5 Mile Run ***
Anaerobic Power (Sprinting Ability) - 300 Meter Run ***
Anaerobic Power (Explosive Leg Strength) - Vertical Jump***
Muscular Strength (Upper Body) - 1RM Bench Press ***
Muscular Endurance (Upper Body) - 1Minute Push Ups **
Muscular Endurance (Core Body) - 1 Minute Sit Ups **
Muscular Strength (Lower Body) - 1RM Leg Press*
Flexibility (Lower Back and Hamstrings) - Sit and Reach*
Body Composition (Percent Body Fat) - % Fat (caliper/underwater weighing/impedance)*
*** Is highly predictive of performing job tasks in all cases
** Is predictive of performing job tasks in most cases
* Is not predictive or is predictive in only a few cases
Comment - Notice that the 300 meter sprint is listed as being highly predictive of performing job tasks in all cases, just like the 1.5 mile run.
So why is it not an option on the test? It would provide a very simple solution to the problem of people who aren't good distance runners, but will still weed out the turds.
3) What about testing for body fat and flexibility?
These two fitness components do not function as significant predictors of a person’s ability to
perform essential tasks in public safety work. It is suggested that you continue testing for flexibility
to prevent injuries and to maintain good posture and muscle balance, but not use flexibility
testing as a standards qualification for selection, training or maintenance. Also, as long as aerobic
power and strength are measured, a body fat measure is not needed. It does not provide any additional
information about the ability to do the job and it is a “red flag” for potential ADA litigation
(as a handicapping condition). Body fat measurement can be provided as feedback to be factored
into an appearance evaluation within an academy setting or for an incumbent performance review,
but it should not be used as a “stand alone” fitness standard.
4) What about changing how a test is delivered such as cupping the ears or crossing the
hands over the chest for the sit up test?
The validity and accuracy of any test is compromised if the procedure for administering the test
is altered in any way. In other words, if a test protocol is changed, the test results are invalid. All
test protocols must be followed exactly in the same manner that was used to establish the norms.
The sit up test protocol requires the person to interlock the fingers and place them behind the
head. However, the trainee should be instructed not to pull on the neck and should be monitored
during the test. There is no data that demonstrates that individuals are injured during the sit up
test when proper screening and test protocols are followed.
Comment - The Air Force uses the Cooper Institute numbers for the "crunches" we do.
5) What about using percentile rankings of the fitness norms as standards?
No. Several years ago, CI recommended using age and gender norms using the 40th percentile for
academy entrance and 50th percentile for academy exit and incumbent standards. Because of legislative
changes requiring Same Job = Same Standard, CI began recommending a single standard
(either the general population norm set or a law enforcement norm set) again using the 40th percentile
for selection and 50th percentile for exit and maintenance. The age and gender norms and
single norms represent a ranking of fitness scores from the 99th to the 1st percentile. The percentile
scores (whether age and gender norms or single norms) have limited validity data for
predicting who can and who cannot do the job. Consequently, they pose problems if used as
a mandatory standard for selection, training or maintenance. They do not pose a significant legal
problem if used to set voluntary standards.
50th Percentile Standards from the latest I could find for males ( http://publicsafety.utah.gov/post/pdf/PT.pdf )
Age 20 - 29 30 - 39 40 - 49 50 - 59
Sit-ups 40 36 31 26
Push-ups 33 27 21 15
1.5 Mile Run 11:58 12:25 13:05 14:33
300 Meter Sprint 56 57 67.6 80
Comment - I put the 300 meter rpint numbers in there just for reference. Interesting that the Cooper Institute run times have 30 - 45 second time differences between age groups for all of the percentile rankings except for those in the 1st percentile.
Just some food for thought.