ABSTRACT
The purpose of this investigation was to determine the physiological and perceptual demands associated with defensive tactics (DEFTAC) training among state patrol officers of different BMI (body mass index) categories. Twenty-four male state patrol officers (n = 24, age 36.00 + 7.86 yrs) voluntarily agreed to participate in data collection during a DEFTAC gauntlet. Anthropometric information (height (HT) 182.19 + 7.43 cm and weight (WT) 96.31 + 17.45 kg), body mass index (BMI), peak and average heart rates, duty weight, BLa, and RPE, were recorded. Officers were then divided into two-groups (Healthy BMI (BMI ≤ 25), n = 12, Overweight (BMI ≥ 25), n = 12). Analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) were conducted to determine the effect of BMI on the outcome variables. Furthermore, a Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient was also conducted to determine if significant relationships between RPE, BLa, and HR existed between groups. Significant mean score differences between healthy and overweight officers were found in measures of age [t(22) 4.12, p< 0.01, R2 = .44], and weight of duty gear [t(21) 3.96, p<0.01, R2 = .33]. When used as a covariate, age also predicted average HR% [ F(1, 21) = 6.19, p < .05, partial η2 = .24]. Significant relationships were found in the healthy group between RPE and DEFTAC time, DEFTAC time and score, as well as score and post BLa. Significant relationships for the overweight group between peak (HR) percentage and post BLa, peak (HR) percentage and RPE, DEFTAC time and duty weight, and between weight and DEFTAC time. The results of this study suggest that overweight officers may have lower DEFTAC scores when compared to their healthy counterparts. Based on the results, it seems reasonable to compare physiological variables from this population to those from combative sports as well as for officers to achieve and maintain a healthy BMI value in order to improve individual DEFTAC performance.
ABSTRACT
Celecoxib was the first of a new class of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) specific inhibitors, marketed as having the same antiinflammatory efficacy as other nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs without their increased risk of gastrointestinal ulceration. Among the widest uses of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs is in the treatment of acute soft tissue injuries. Although the benefits of celecoxib have been shown when used for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, we are unaware of any studies concerning its effect on soft tissues. We used the surgically incised medial collateral ligament of male Sprague-Dawley rats as an experimental model for acute ligament injuries to investigate the effects of celecoxib on ligament healing. Fifty rats underwent surgical transection of the right medial collateral ligament. Postoperatively, half were given celecoxib for the first 6 days of recovery, the other half were not. The animals were sacrificed 14 days after the operation, and both the injured and uninjured medial collateral ligaments were mechanically tested to failure in tension. Celecoxib-treated/injured ligaments were found to have a 32% lower load to failure than untreated/injured ligaments. The results of this study do not support use of cyclooxygenase-2 specific inhibitors in the treatment of ligament injuries.
