Metric, physiological, and biomechanical variables in performance of rapid movements have generally revealed inconsistent findings. Within this study, we tested the hypotheses that (a) both body composition and leg extensor strength variables would reveal significant relationship with jumping performance, whereas (b) the same relationships would be stronger in physically active nonathletes than in the elite athletes proficient in vertical jumping. Top-level female volleyball players (VP; N = 35) and physically active female nonathletes (PA; N = 21) were tested on maximum vertical jumps performed with and without arm swing, as well as on body composition (percent fat and muscle) and leg press strength (maximum force and the rate of force development). The results revealed significant relationships between the jumping performance and body composition variables that appeared to be higher in PA (r = 0.65–0.76; all p < 0.01) than in VP (r = 0.37–0.42; all p ≤ 0.05). The relationships between the jumping performance and the leg strength variables were mainly significant (r = 0.23–0.68) and similar in 2 groups. We conclude that not only the leg extensor strength but also the body composition variables could be valid predictors of jumping performance and, possibly, other rapid movements. Moreover, the body composition variables that have been mainly neglected in the literature could be particularly strong predictors of performance of jumping in nonathletes, as compared with relatively homogeneous populations of elite athletes....

Law enforcement is a stressful occupation with both work-related and social-related stressors. Too much stress can negatively affect behaviours, mental states, and job performance. Centralized police organizations limit officers’ individual autonomy, likely increasing stress. This study examined differences in occupational stress in two different European countries and one Middle East country. Participants were 351 male police officers from Serbia (n = 130, age 36 ± 8 years), Russia (n = 121, age 22 ± 4 years), and Lebanon (n = 100, age 36 ± 6 years) who completed the 20-item Operational Police Stress Questionnaire in their own language. Items were averaged and interpreted as low (≤2.0), stress (2.1–3.4), and high stress (≥3.5). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) analyses using age as the covariate with Bonferroni post hoc analyses were used. A principal component analysis (PCA) was used to determine stress structure per country. Significant differences were found with lower occupational stress in Russian (P < 0.001) and Lebanon (P = 0.003) than Serbian officers. PCA factor patterns differed by country, with six found for Russian and Lebanese and three for Serbian officers. More work-related stressors were rated higher for the younger Russian officers, while more social-related stressors were rated higher for the older Serbian officers. Results suggest that it is vital to consider officers’ stress sources and overall stress levels.

МОРФОЛОГИЧЕСКИЕ ПАРАМЕТРЫ И ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКИ СОКРАТИМОСТИ МЫШЦ РУК НА ПЕРВОМ ЭТАПЕ ОТБОРА В ВОДНОЕ ПОЛО: РАЗЛИЧИЯ МЕЖДУ ЮНОШАМИ-ВАТЕРПОЛИСТАМИ И КОНТРОЛЬНОЙ ГРУППОЙ

The aim of this study was to show the extent of the influence of the shift work on nutritional status and physical activity of police officers. The research included 130 healthy police officers. The respondents were divided into two groups. The first group included 82 officers who were working the first shift. The second group included 48 officers who were working the 12hour shift. The study used customized questionnaire consisting of questions regarding leisure-time physical activity, self-report lifestyle activity level, body height, body mass, and derived body mass index (BMI). The ANOVA analysis showed that the first shift had significantly lower BMI (2.57 kg/m2 , p = 0.004) than the 12-hour shift. The results showed that physical activity is strongly associated with lower values of BMI in both groups (p < 0.01). Regarding the correlation between age and years of service, only the 12-hour shift showed coherency (p < 0.01). Although there was no difference in the level of physical activity between police officers from different shifts, declines in physical activity were associated with higher values of BMI.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to determine the prevalence of stress and to identify the occupational stressors among Lebanese police officers.Design/methodology/approach: Operational Police Stress Questionnaire (PSQ-op) was addressed to 100 randomly selected male Lebanese Police officers. Twenty items from the PSQ-op were run through the principal component analysis to determine the most significant factors of stress and loading within each of the factors.Findings: The results indicated that 59% of officers reported moderate stress level and 41% reported strenuous stress. Principal component analysis identified six independent factors or stress among Lebanese police officers explaining in total 72.1% of the total variance: excessive workload (30.6%), social-life time management (12.8%), occupational fitness (9.1%), success-related stress (8.6%), physical and psychological health (5.8%), and working alone at night (5.2%).Research limitations/implications: This research approach encountered some limitations so further research must: use a larger sample size, include female gender and identify other sources of stressors mainly organizational or job context stressors.Originality/value: Addressing and understanding stress factors among Lebanese police officers helps improving awareness and developing individualized treatment strategies leading police officers to engage in stress-management training to learn coping strategies and use effective tools for preventing stress before it becomes chronic.

The purpose of this study was to assess the differences in muscle activation (EMG) and body weight distribution (%BW) between suspension (TRX^™ push-up and TRX^™ inverted row) and conventional exercises (bench press and lying barbell row) using different contraction types (isometric and isotonic) and position variations (feet on the ground [FG] and feet on suspension device [FD]). It was also used to determine the intensity of the force applied to the straps of the suspension device corresponding to one repetition maximum (1-RM). Twelve male athletes (ages—24.5±4.2 years (mean±standard deviation [SD]); Height—181.0±6.8 cm; body mass—83.08±6.81 kg) participated in this study. Two suspension devices were used, one for the FD variation and one for the FG variation pectoralis major (PM) and triceps brachii (TRI) activations were assessed during the TRX^™ push-up and bench press exercises. Transversus trapezius (TRA) and biceps brachii (BB) activations were assessed during the TRX^™ inverted row and lying barbell row exercises. The results showed significant differences between exercises (FG and FD variations of TRX^™ push-up and bench press) in PM activities (isometric and isotonic) (p≤0.05). However, these differences were only observed during isometric TRI activation (p≤0.05). In the FG and FD variations of the TRX^™ inverted row and lying barbell row exercises, there were only differences in the isometric contractions of the TRA and BB (p≤0.05). In the suspension device of push-ups and inverted row for the FD variations, 70.5% and 72.64% of 1-RM intensity were obtained, respectively. Similar responses to training intensities and muscle activations can be obtained in suspension exercises and conventional exercises. FD variations of suspension exercises can be more effective in terms of muscle activations than FG variations, and isotonic suspension exercises increase exercise intensity more than isometric suspension exercises.