Ben Schram
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View article: Sex Differences in the Metabolic Cost of a Military Load Carriage Task: A Field Based Study
Sex Differences in the Metabolic Cost of a Military Load Carriage Task: A Field Based Study Open
Occupational demands, such as load carriage in tactical professions, do not discriminate based on sex. The aim of this study was to explore the differences in metabolic cost of a loaded pack march between the sexes in both absolute and rel…
View article: A profile of injuries within an Australian State Emergency Service Agency: a retrospective study
A profile of injuries within an Australian State Emergency Service Agency: a retrospective study Open
Background Injuries within the emergency services populations are unfortunately common. Effective injury reduction programs need to be designed based on the profile of common injuries. Therefore, this study aimed to profile the injuries su…
View article: Test-Retest Reliability of the 20-Metre Shuttle Run Test in a Cohort of Police Trainees
Test-Retest Reliability of the 20-Metre Shuttle Run Test in a Cohort of Police Trainees Open
The 20-metre Multistage Fitness Test (20-m MSFT) is commonly used to measure aerobic capacity in police trainees as an entry gateway or exit requirement. However, its test-retest reliability, or consistency of scores for individual candida…
View article: Relationship Between Training Load and Injuries in Law Enforcement Recruits
Relationship Between Training Load and Injuries in Law Enforcement Recruits Open
Background Law enforcement agencies typically conduct academy training to develop new officers. As these future officers are recruited from the general population, increases in physical workload during academy training can influence injur…
View article: Police Fitness: An International Perspective on Current and Future Challenges
Police Fitness: An International Perspective on Current and Future Challenges Open
Poor officer fitness can lead to decreased occupational task performance, injuries, increased absenteeism, and a variety of negative health sequalae further adding to the challenges of staffing law enforcement agencies. Optimizing the phys…
View article: Heart rate variability is more sensitive to stress than heart rate in specialist police undergoing selection
Heart rate variability is more sensitive to stress than heart rate in specialist police undergoing selection Open
Police tactical group (PTG) officers respond to the most demanding and high-risk police situations. As such, PTG personnel require exceptional physical fitness, and selection for employment often evaluates fitness both directly and indirec…
View article: Ultra‐short‐term versus short‐term measures of heart rate variability in specialist police units: A pilot reliability study
Ultra‐short‐term versus short‐term measures of heart rate variability in specialist police units: A pilot reliability study Open
Police officers are exposed to high levels of stress. Serving on Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams is a highly demanding duty that may further increase levels of stress in police personnel. This stress may accumulate, thereby increa…
View article: Profiling the Physiological Demands of a Wilderness Paramedics Selection Course
Profiling the Physiological Demands of a Wilderness Paramedics Selection Course Open
Wilderness paramedics are specialised paramedics who are responsible for attending to medical emergencies in remote regions with limited accessibility. Entry to the wilderness paramedic units, like many other specialist first responder uni…
View article: Motivation, community, and resilience in older adults’ exercise: a three-year qualitative follow-up to the BELL trial
Motivation, community, and resilience in older adults’ exercise: a three-year qualitative follow-up to the BELL trial Open
This qualitative study explores the long-term impact of the BELL trial’s weekly group kettlebell training on older adults’ engagement, community building, and intrinsic motivation. Three years post-trial, participants from the ‘Wednesday F…
View article: Sex-specific differences in fit between two different types of body armour: A pilot study
Sex-specific differences in fit between two different types of body armour: A pilot study Open
Introduction. Body armour, whilst improving wearer survivability, can negatively impact physical performance and increase injury risk. These impacts may differ between male and female personnel due to the generic design of armour systems. …
View article: Profiling the Occupational Injuries Sustained by Custody Officers: A Systematic Review
Profiling the Occupational Injuries Sustained by Custody Officers: A Systematic Review Open
Background/Objectives: Custody officers (CO) are often exposed to workplace hazards when monitoring prisoners, managing prisoners’ recreational time, or searching for contraband, yet research into their injuries is limited. This review aim…
View article: Heart Rate Variability Monitoring in Special Emergency Response Team Anaerobic-Based Tasks and Training
Heart Rate Variability Monitoring in Special Emergency Response Team Anaerobic-Based Tasks and Training Open
The Law enforcement profession is known to impart high stress. Members of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams are allocated particularly demanding law enforcement operations and may therefore attain high fitness levels but may accumul…
View article: Cardiovascular Demand Differences Between Male and Female US Marine Recruits During Progressive Loaded Hikes
Cardiovascular Demand Differences Between Male and Female US Marine Recruits During Progressive Loaded Hikes Open
Schram, B, Orr, R, Niederberger, B, Givens, A, Bernards, J, and Kelly, KR. Cardiovascular demand differences between male and female US Marine recruits during progressive loaded hikes. J Strength Cond Res 38(8): e454–e458, 2024—Despite hav…
View article: Is exercise therapy the<i>right</i>treatment for rotator cuff‐related shoulder pain? Uncertainties, theory, and practice
Is exercise therapy the<i>right</i>treatment for rotator cuff‐related shoulder pain? Uncertainties, theory, and practice Open
Background Exercise therapy is a popular non‐surgical treatment to help manage individuals with rotator cuff‐related shoulder pain (RCRSP) and is recommended in all clinical practice guidelines. Due to modest effect sizes, low quality evid…
View article: A profile of occupational tasks performed by mounted police officers
A profile of occupational tasks performed by mounted police officers Open
BACKGROUND: Within individual policing organisations, there are a wide variety of units and job roles. OBJECTIVE: To profile the occupational tasks performed by Australian mounted police officers, aiming to offer conditioning insight into …
View article: Effects of a single-day pre-academy physical test training session on physical fitness scores of police candidates
Effects of a single-day pre-academy physical test training session on physical fitness scores of police candidates Open
BACKGROUND: Concerns are sometimes raised by police applicants undertaking physical fitness testing that they were unfamiliar with the test requirements which in turn negatively impacted their performance. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study …
View article: Heart rate variability profile changes associated with specialist police selection activities: A case study
Heart rate variability profile changes associated with specialist police selection activities: A case study Open
BACKGROUND: Police Tactical Groups (PTGs) are specialist police units tasked with rigorous physical and psychosocial duties. Consequently, selection courses (SCs) for service in these units must also be rigorous. Given the intensity of SCs…
View article: The Use of Musculoskeletal Fitness Measures as Indicators of Performance in Police Occupational Tasks
The Use of Musculoskeletal Fitness Measures as Indicators of Performance in Police Occupational Tasks Open
Fitness testing is employed by some law enforcement agencies to assure performance in occupational tasks. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between musculoskeletal fitness assessment scores and performance in police occ…
View article: Impacts of duty belts and load placement on police officers: A systematic review
Impacts of duty belts and load placement on police officers: A systematic review Open
Background. Law enforcement officers (LEOs) wear duty belts to hold the specialised equipment required to complete their daily occupational tasks. The aim of this review was to identify, collect, and synthesize research investigating the i…
View article: Occupation-Induced Fatigue and Impacts on Emergency First Responders: A Systematic Review
Occupation-Induced Fatigue and Impacts on Emergency First Responders: A Systematic Review Open
Fatigue in emergency first responders (EFRs) is known to affect performance abilities and safety outcomes for both patients and EFRs. The primary aim of this review was to determine the main contributors to occupation-induced fatigue in EF…
View article: Heart Rate Variability Assessment of Land Navigation and Load Carriage Activities in Specialist Police Selection
Heart Rate Variability Assessment of Land Navigation and Load Carriage Activities in Specialist Police Selection Open
Police tactical group (PTG) personnel are exposed to physical, mental, and emotional stressors. Consequently, PTG selection courses (SCs) impart similar challenges, often resulting in candidate attrition. Holistic assessment may provide ad…
View article: An Examination of Subjective and Objective Measures of Stress in Tactical Populations: A Scoping Review
An Examination of Subjective and Objective Measures of Stress in Tactical Populations: A Scoping Review Open
Persons working in tactical occupations are often exposed to high-stress situations. If this stress is to be measured, an understanding of the stress outcomes used in these occupations is needed. The aim of this review was to capture and c…
View article: “Restoring That Faith in My Shoulder”: A Qualitative Investigation of How and Why Exercise Therapy Influenced the Clinical Outcomes of Individuals With Rotator Cuff–Related Shoulder Pain
“Restoring That Faith in My Shoulder”: A Qualitative Investigation of How and Why Exercise Therapy Influenced the Clinical Outcomes of Individuals With Rotator Cuff–Related Shoulder Pain Open
Objective Rotator cuff–related shoulder pain (RCRSP) is the most common form of shoulder pain. Exercise therapy is a first-line recommended treatment for RCRSP. However, the causal mechanisms underpinning the benefits of exercise for RCRSP…
View article: Incorporation of heart rate variability into police tactical group small unit tactics selection
Incorporation of heart rate variability into police tactical group small unit tactics selection Open
Objective: Police tactical group (PTG) occupational requirements are known to expose officers to high levels of physical, mental, and emotional stressors. As such, selection courses must ensure candidates are not only physically, but menta…
View article: Characterization of Injuries Suffered by Mounted and Non-Mounted Police Officers
Characterization of Injuries Suffered by Mounted and Non-Mounted Police Officers Open
Mounted police officers are subject to unique occupational tasks which may lead to unique injuries. This study’s aim was to describe policing injuries suffered by mounted police officers contextualized through comparison to non-mounted off…
View article: The heart rates and movement speed of Specialist Tactical Police during a multistorey active shooter training scenario
The heart rates and movement speed of Specialist Tactical Police during a multistorey active shooter training scenario Open
Specialist police tactical groups (PTGs) are involved in situations that extend beyond the capability of general duties police and can include responding to active shooter incidents. Due to the nature of their tasks, these officers typical…