A Recent FBI Study showed that 8 out of 10 Police Officers are considered Overweight.
--U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation
This can be a direct result of stress, poor nutrition, sedentary activity, and poor sleep cycles. An appropriate exercise prescription can combat these factors.
Fitness levels in new firefighter recruits can decline in only 22 weeks from the beginning active duty.
--Research completed by University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Drake University
Firefighters today are struggling with increasing rates of obesity (33%-52%) and excess weight (35%-46%).
--Study available in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2017
These weight issues are combined with lower-than-recommended levels of aerobic capacity.
Over 93 million adults in the U.S. are obese.
--According to the CDC
There's a high likelihood that Firefighters, EMS, and Law Enforcement personnel will interact directly with members of this demographic, and need to be physically prepared to do so.
Parkinson's Disease affects more than Ten Million people worldwide.
In the US, nearly one million people are diagnosed by PD, which is more than the combined number of cases of Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, and ALS.
Approximately 60,000 people are diagnosed with PD each year.
Recent Studies of Parkinson's Disease have focused on the concept of intense "forced" exercise.
-- Cleveland Clinic Study
These studies have begun to suggest that certain kinds of exercise may be neuro-protective, i.e. actually slowing the progression of the disease.
Men are 1.5 times more likely to have Parkinson's than Women.
The incidence of PD increases with age, but more people are being diagnosed at an earlier age; an estimated four percent before the age of 50.
An astonishing 11% of on-duty deaths for EMS personnel are the result of cardiovascular disease (the 3rd highest job-related cause of death).
--Journal of Emergency Medical Services
A recent study in Boston found that among new EMT recruits, only 22% were at a healthy weight, while 44% were overweight and 33% were considered obese.
--Journal of Emergency Medical Services
That means that 3 out of every 4 recruits were above their recommended healthy weight.
"Researchers reported that participating in physical activity was positively related to outcomes including academic achievement, academic behaviors, and indicators of cognitive skills and attitudes, such as concentration, memory, self-esteem, and verbal skills."
-Excerpt from a CDC article titled "The Association Between School-Based Physical Activity, Including Physical Education, and Academic Performance."
"There is a common perception that, to succeed, student athletes have to work only at one sport. But if they work on the same skills every single day, there's not much diversity there. Research has proven that kids who play only one sport are more likely to get hurt and burn out. Mentally, they are done with that sport.... That may also lead to a downturn in their academics." -Jay Spearman
-An excerpt from a National Strength and Conditioning case study discussing how Certified Coaches give young athletes skills that are bigger than sports.
"One hallmark of the CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist) model is a strong focus on creating well-rounded students. Unlike older physical education models, we're increasing their measurables... we're teaching students to move better and avoid injuries.... They are learning how to take care of their bodies. We're giving them lifetime skills they'll use even after high school. There's so much information on the internet, in social media. We're teaching students how to discern what's good and bad."
- Gary McChalicher, EdD, CSCS, High school admininstrator
-Excerpt taken from NSCA Case Study