Risk of metabolic syndrome among law enforcement officers due to physical activity and posture behaviors.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data on objectively measured activity and postural behaviors of law enforcement officers (LEOs) in relation to risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS). OBJECTIVES: To examine the associations between objectively measured activity and postural behaviors and MetS risk among LEOs. METHODS: Thirty-one LEOs, mean (SD) age 33 (10) years, participated in the study. LEOs had their metabolic risk factors measured using blood samples after fasting for at least 10 hours prior to testing. Participants wore activity-monitoring devices for 7 consecutive days during on-duty and off-duty shifts. Eighteen participants adhered to wearing the devices. Descriptive statistics were used to determine means for all MetS risk factors; time in intensity-specific physical activity behaviors; and time in various postural shifts. Correlation analyses were employed to examine relationships between activity behaviors, postures, and MetS risk factors. RESULTS: Over half (51.6%; n = 16) of the participants had 2 or more positive MetS risk factors. Mean (SD) on-duty sedentary behavior was 273 (59) minutes compared with off-duty sedentary behavior of 401 (146) minutes. Mean on-duty moderate-intensity activity was 236 (40) minutes compared with off-duty moderate-intensity activity of 305 (80) minutes. Average on-duty sitting time was 435 (69) minutes compared with off-duty sitting time of 528 (142) minutes. Average on-duty standing time was 116 (43) minutes compared with off-duty standing time of 171 (51) minutes. There were negative correlations between on-duty sedentary activity and Systolic Blood Pressure (r = -0.48) and Diastolic Blood Pressure (r = -0.48), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Law enforcement officers have unfavorable activity and postural behaviors during a typical day regardless of working status and may be at risk for developing MetS.

Workload Accomplished in Phase III Cardiac Rehabilitation.

Exercise training is an important component of clinical exercise programs. Although there are recognized guidelines for the amount of exercise to be accomplished (≥70,000 steps per week or ≥150 min per week at moderate intensity), there is virtually no documentation of how much exercise is actually accomplished in contemporary exercise programs. Having guidelines without evidence of whether they are being met is of limited value. We analyzed both the weekly step count and the session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) of patients (n = 26) enrolled in a community clinical exercise (e.g., Phase III) program over a 3-week reference period. Step counts averaged 39,818 ± 18,612 per week, with 18% of the steps accomplished in the program and 82% of steps accomplished outside the program. Using the sRPE method, inside the program, the patients averaged 162.4 ± 93.1 min per week, at a sRPE of 12.5 ± 1.9 and a frequency of 1.8 ± 0.7 times per week, for a calculated exercise load of 2042.5 ± 1244.9 AU. Outside the program, the patients averaged 144.9 ± 126.4 min, at a sRPE of 11.8 ± 5.8 and a frequency of 2.4 ± 1.5 times per week, for a calculated exercise load of 1723.9 ± 1526.2 AU. The total exercise load using sRPE was 266.4 ± 170.8 min per week, at a sRPE of 12.6 ± 3.8, and frequency of 4.2 ± 1.1 times per week, for a calculated exercise load of 3359.8 ± 2145.9 AU. There was a non-linear relationship between steps per week and the sRPE derived training load, apparently attributable to the amount of non-walking exercise accomplished in the program. The results suggest that patients in a community clinical exercise program are achieving American College of Sports Medicine guidelines, based on the sRPE method, but are accomplishing less steps than recommended by guidelines.