Relationships Between Body Composition and Vertical Jump Height in Male 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
Lower-body power is a critical component of occupational performance in Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs). They often engage in physically demanding tasks such as foot pursuits, lifting, dragging objects or individuals, and applying physical restraint. Countermovement jump (CMJ) testing is an effective tool for assessing both explosive ability and strength. Body composition may be a factor affecting lower-body performance. PURPOSE: To determine the relationship between body composition and jump performance. METHODS: Thirty-one male LEOs (age: 36.6 ± 9.1 years, 96.8 ± 15.2 kg, and height 1.80 ± 0.1 m) participated in the study. Lower-body appendicular muscle mass, total muscle mass, total fat mass, and total body mass were assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and CMJ height was measured using force plates. Pearson’s correlation coefficients (r) were used to calculate the relationship between CMJ and body composition variables. RESULTS: Among all variables tested, only total fat mass exhibited a statistically significant inverse correlation with jump height (r = -.473, p ≤ .01), No significant relationships were observed between jump height and lower-body appendicular muscle mass (r = .126, p = .60), total muscle mass (r= -.02, p = .98), or total body mass (r = -.29, p = .11). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that excess fat mass alone may hinder explosive performance, as compared to total body mass and/or muscle mass alone which do not predict jump height in this population. The results emphasize the importance of maintaining reduced levels of body fat to optimize physical readiness and occupational performance in LEOs.
Relationships Between Body Composition and Vertical Jump Height in Male Law Enforcement Officers
CNS Atrium
Lower-body power is a critical component of occupational performance in Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs). They often engage in physically demanding tasks such as foot pursuits, lifting, dragging objects or individuals, and applying physical restraint. Countermovement jump (CMJ) testing is an effective tool for assessing both explosive ability and strength. Body composition may be a factor affecting lower-body performance. PURPOSE: To determine the relationship between body composition and jump performance. METHODS: Thirty-one male LEOs (age: 36.6 ± 9.1 years, 96.8 ± 15.2 kg, and height 1.80 ± 0.1 m) participated in the study. Lower-body appendicular muscle mass, total muscle mass, total fat mass, and total body mass were assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and CMJ height was measured using force plates. Pearson’s correlation coefficients (r) were used to calculate the relationship between CMJ and body composition variables. RESULTS: Among all variables tested, only total fat mass exhibited a statistically significant inverse correlation with jump height (r = -.473, p ≤ .01), No significant relationships were observed between jump height and lower-body appendicular muscle mass (r = .126, p = .60), total muscle mass (r= -.02, p = .98), or total body mass (r = -.29, p = .11). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that excess fat mass alone may hinder explosive performance, as compared to total body mass and/or muscle mass alone which do not predict jump height in this population. The results emphasize the importance of maintaining reduced levels of body fat to optimize physical readiness and occupational performance in LEOs.