BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) The longer deputy sheriffs work in detention-based roles, the worse their performance becomes on job-specific physical tasks. Deputies who spent four or more years in detention showed significant declines in tasks like obstacle courses, fence climbs, and sprint efforts compared to recruits and other deputies. Performance on the 500-yard run—a […]
Emmett Shaul
Research Review: General Aerobic Base Doesn’t Transfer to the Demands of Sport Climbing
BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) This study confirms that general aerobic capacity has no meaningful relationship to climbing-specific aerobic capacity or performance. In contrast, forearm oxidative recovery, oxygen use in the forearms during climbing, and climbing-specific VO₂peak (measured on a treadwall) were all strong predictors of red-point climbing ability. When combined, these three measures explained 67% of […]
Research Review: Mechanical Effects of Knee Wraps During Submaximal Back Squat Exercise
BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) This study assessed the mechanical and performance effects of wearing knee wraps during the back squat at 80% 1RM. Results showed increased vertical impulse and peak power output when knee wraps were worn, likely due to the elastic energy stored during the descent and released during the ascent. However, knee […]
Research Review: Real-World Load Conditions Reveal Gaps in Police Standard Fitness Testing
BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) This study investigated whether wearing a full police uniform affects performance on the Dutch National Police Physical Competence Test (PCT). Results showed that wearing the uniform significantly slowed completion time, increased perceived exertion (RPE), and elevated cumulative physiological load. While physiological intensity did not differ significantly, performance declines were seen […]
Research Review: Minimum Training Dose for 1RM Strength Improvement in Trained Lifters
BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) This multi-study paper investigates the minimum effective training dose (METD) needed to produce meaningful 1-repetition maximum (1RM) strength gains in powerlifters. The authors concluded that 3–6 weekly working sets of 1–5 reps at >80% 1RM and RPE 7.5–9.5, over 6–12 weeks, are sufficient to elicit 1RM improvements. The RPE, or Rate of Perceived […]
Research Review: Muscle Maintenance During Caloric Deficit – Lessons from Alaska Hunters for Tactical Athletes
By Emmett Shaul BLUF A pilot study examined the effects of Alaska backcountry expeditionary hunting on skeletal muscle protein synthesis under conditions of physical and nutrient stress. The study found that despite significant negative energy balance and weight loss , participants maintained skeletal muscle mass. The study also found that muscle protein synthesis (MPS) increased […]
Research Review: Effects of Polarized vs. Other Training Intensity Distribution Models on Endurance Performance
BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) This scoping review compared the long-term effects of Polarized Training (POL) with other Training Intensity Distribution (TID) models—Pyramidal (PYR), Threshold (THR), and Block Training (BT)—on endurance performance and physiological adaptations. In endurance athletes ranging from trained to world-class (Tiers 2–5), POL and PYR models were generally more effective than THR […]
Research Review: High-Intensity Functional Training vs. Traditional Military Physical Training
BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) This study compared High-Intensity Functional Training (HIFT) with Traditional Military Physical Training (TMPT) over a 19-week period in conscripts. HIFT proved to be a more effective and time-efficient approach for improving aerobic endurance and strength, despite incorporating less total running volume than TMPT. HIFT resulted in greater improvements in aerobic capacity, upper- and lower-body strength, […]
Research Review: Evaluating Non-Surgical Treatments for Low Back Pain – What the Evidence Supports
BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) This study systematically reviewed 301 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 377 treatment comparisons assessing the efficacy of 56 different non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for acute (<12 weeks) and chronic (≥12 weeks) low back pain against placebo. The findings indicate that only 10% of the treatments provided statistically significant but small […]
Research Review: Physical Training Considerations for Optimizing Performance in Essential Military Tasks
BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) This study examines the physical attributes essential for military tasks—load carriage, manual material handling, and casualty evacuation—and evaluates training methods to optimize performance. Strength and aerobic conditioning are key, with load carriage benefiting from combined resistance, endurance, and load carriage training, while manual material handling and casualty evacuation rely on structured strength […]