An Analysis of the Article: Fitness Profiles in Elite Tactical Units: A Critical Review

This article was published in International Journal of Exercise Science in 2018 (DOI: 10.70252/XGJU7809).

Note: This article was not submitted to ExultX Spotlight by the authors. However, due to its relevance, we have decided to share it with our community. This text is a commentary on the original article, attempting to highlight the key points. For a more thorough and complete understanding of the content, we strongly recommend everyone to read the original article.

All rights to the findings belong to the authors of the article. Responsibility for the commentary lies with ExultX.

This article delves into the fitness profiles of Elite Tactical Units (ETUs), such as Military Special Forces and Police Special Forces, by synthesising findings from 14 studies. It explores the physical demands and performance standards necessary for these roles. The research underscores the critical role of fitness in executing physically demanding and complex tasks across diverse environments. However, the lack of standardised fitness measures limits the ability to optimise training and performance. The study advocates for customised fitness profiling to enhance task-specific performance, reduce injuries, and streamline return-to-duty protocols.

Key fitness domains assessed include strength, endurance, power, flexibility, and aerobic capacity. Findings reveal considerable variability in fitness measures and testing protocols, emphasising the need for consistency in future research. Ultimately, the review affirms that ETUs require elite levels of fitness—often matching or surpassing professional athletes—to meet the intense demands of their roles.

1. Description of the Methodology

The study employed a rigorous two-step review process. Relevant databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL) were searched using tactical fitness-related terms, supplemented by expert recommendations. The inclusion criteria specified that studies involving ETUs (police, military, firefighters), adult participants, and measurable fitness metrics (e.g., VO2Max, 1RM strength) were eligible. Studies focusing on general populations, non-elite units, and unrelated health interventions were excluded.

Each study was appraised using a modified Downs and Black checklist to evaluate methodological quality, which was categorised as poor, fair, or good. Key data—such as body fat percentage, strength tests, and aerobic fitness—were extracted and analysed. Averages and ranges were calculated where applicable.

2. Key Takeaways

Anthropometric Measures: Specialist police officers often show higher BMIs than military personnel, which may stem from different job demands. However, elevated BMIs could impact cardiovascular health.

Body Fat Percentage: ETUs exhibit lower body fat than general populations, police, or military. For instance, ETUs’ average body fat percentage is significantly below the general population.

Muscular Strength: Measures like 1RM Bench Press reveal ETUs have greater strength than civilians but are on par with general police and military units.

Power: Lower limb power is comparable across ETUs, police, and military, while upper body power varies due to differences in testing methods.

Peak Power: SWAT officers show higher peak power than U.S. Army Rangers, possibly due to calculation methods. ETUs’ vertical jump averages surpass civilians and general military personnel.

Muscular Endurance: ETUs excel in endurance tests (e.g., push-ups and sit-ups), surpassing civilian, police, and military benchmarks.

Flexibility: ETUs perform better in sit-and-reach tests than general populations and military personnel, though specialist police often excel further.

Aerobic Fitness: Military Special Forces consistently achieve higher VO2Max values than specialist police or general populations.

Agility and Speed: ETUs demonstrate greater agility than military personnel but have similar sprint times to non-competitive athletes.

Injury Prevention: Structured fitness profiles can help reduce injury risks and improve recovery processes for returning to active duty.

Policy Development: Fitness profiling supports the creation of evidence-based policies that benefit both ETUs and their organisations.

Research Gaps: Standardised fitness measures and deeper analysis of how fitness domains impact task performance in ETUs are needed.

Variability in Protocols: Fitness tests and protocols differ widely across studies, making it challenging to compare and standardise results.

Below are two tables: the first presents the values from the article for each assessment and the corresponding values for each ETU, while the second compares these values with those of the general population, general police units, and general military units.

Summation of anthropometric and fitness measure results (Retried from the article under analysis).

Comparison between the General Population, ETUs, General Police, and General Military (Produced by ExultX based on the article under analysis).

3. Day-to-Day Applications

Fitness profiles offer valuable insights into the unique physical demands of ETUs. By understanding these requirements, tailored training programmes can target key areas, such as:

Fitness Benchmarks: Setting clear metrics to define minimum goals and standards, helping to maintain motivation and establish clear objectives during physical preparation.

Informed Screening: Profiling helps identify recruits who are not only fit but also capable of handling the unique stresses of ETU roles, reducing attrition during training.

Individualised Plans: By assessing pre-injury fitness levels, personalised rehab programmes can be designed to restore specific capabilities. For those without pre-injury values, this could serve as a goal for returning to duty.

Injury Prevention: Addressing weaknesses such as flexibility or imbalances can reduce the risk of future injuries. Profiling can also help identify outliers and areas of weakness.

Physical Readiness Standards: Clear benchmarks ensure personnel maintain optimal fitness throughout their careers.

Recruitment and Retention: Data-driven fitness strategies help attract candidates with the necessary physical capabilities and promote long-term health and career longevity.

Learn more about the article here.