Upper Extremity Lean Mass Predicts Muscular Endurance in Law Enforcement Officers
Major
Kinesiology and Allied Health
Submission Type
Poster
Area of Study or Work
Exercise Science
Faculty Advisor
Daniel Dodd
Location
CNS Atrium
Start Date
4-11-2026 11:15 AM
End Date
4-11-2026 12:30 PM
Abstract
Muscular endurance performance, including tasks such as push-ups and sit-ups, is critical for occupational readiness in law enforcement. Despite its importance, the influence of regional body composition on muscular endurance remains unclear. Variations in lean and fat mass across body regions may differentially affect performance. PURPOSE: To examine the relationships between regional body composition and muscular endurance performance in law enforcement officers (LEOs). METHODS: Thirty-one male LEOs (age: 36.6 ± 9.1 years; body mass: 96.8 ± 15.2 kg; height: 1.8 ± 0.1 m) completed one-minute hand-release push-up and elbow-to-thigh sit-up tests to assess upper-body and trunk muscular endurance. Whole-body composition was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to determine total and regional lean and fat mass. Pearson’s correlation coefficients (r) were calculated to assess relationships between body composition variables and performance outcomes. RESULTS: Arm fat mass was negatively correlated with push-up (r = −0.38, p = 0.03) and sit-up performance (r = −0.48, p = 0.01). Trunk fat mass demonstrated strong negative correlations with push-ups (r = −0.49, p = 0.01) and sit-ups (r = −0.585, p < 0.01). Total fat mass was also negatively associated with push-ups (r = −0.46, p = 0.01) and sit-ups (r = −0.55, p = 0.01). Arm lean mass was positively correlated with push-up performance (r = 0.40, p = 0.03), while other regional lean mass measures were not significantly associated with performance (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Greater fat mass, particularly in the trunk and arms, was associated with lower muscular endurance performance. Although lean mass showed positive associations, only arm lean mass was significantly related to endurance. These findings suggest that reducing excess body fat may enhance muscular endurance and occupational fitness in LEO populations.
Upper Extremity Lean Mass Predicts Muscular Endurance in Law Enforcement Officers
CNS Atrium
Muscular endurance performance, including tasks such as push-ups and sit-ups, is critical for occupational readiness in law enforcement. Despite its importance, the influence of regional body composition on muscular endurance remains unclear. Variations in lean and fat mass across body regions may differentially affect performance. PURPOSE: To examine the relationships between regional body composition and muscular endurance performance in law enforcement officers (LEOs). METHODS: Thirty-one male LEOs (age: 36.6 ± 9.1 years; body mass: 96.8 ± 15.2 kg; height: 1.8 ± 0.1 m) completed one-minute hand-release push-up and elbow-to-thigh sit-up tests to assess upper-body and trunk muscular endurance. Whole-body composition was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to determine total and regional lean and fat mass. Pearson’s correlation coefficients (r) were calculated to assess relationships between body composition variables and performance outcomes. RESULTS: Arm fat mass was negatively correlated with push-up (r = −0.38, p = 0.03) and sit-up performance (r = −0.48, p = 0.01). Trunk fat mass demonstrated strong negative correlations with push-ups (r = −0.49, p = 0.01) and sit-ups (r = −0.585, p < 0.01). Total fat mass was also negatively associated with push-ups (r = −0.46, p = 0.01) and sit-ups (r = −0.55, p = 0.01). Arm lean mass was positively correlated with push-up performance (r = 0.40, p = 0.03), while other regional lean mass measures were not significantly associated with performance (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Greater fat mass, particularly in the trunk and arms, was associated with lower muscular endurance performance. Although lean mass showed positive associations, only arm lean mass was significantly related to endurance. These findings suggest that reducing excess body fat may enhance muscular endurance and occupational fitness in LEO populations.