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Home / Equine Research Bank / Int J Environ Res Public Health / Characterization of Injuries Suffered by Mounted and Non-Mou...
International journal of environmental research and public health2023; 20(2); 1144; doi: 10.3390/ijerph20021144

Characterization of Injuries Suffered by Mounted and Non-Mounted Police Officers.

Abstract: 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 officers. Injury data from 01 July 2014 to 30 June 2020 were provided from a state policing agency's incident reporting database. The data reported the numbers and rates of injuries and classified the injuries by gender, cause, mechanism, nature, and hours worked. Of the 35,406 reported injuries, 35,255 (99.6%) injuries were reported by non-mounted police officers. An annual incidence rate of 338-364 and 626-952 injuries per 1000 personnel were reported in non-mounted and mounted police, respectively. For mounted police, the leading causes of injuries were slips, trips, and falls (23.8%), followed by repetitive tasks and movements (9.9%). Physical assault was the leading cause of injury for non-mounted police officers (21.3%), followed by slips, trips, and falls (16.0%). In mounted police, falls from heights (15.9%) and repetitive tasks and movements (10.6%) comprised the most frequently specified mechanisms of injury, as compared to physical assault (21.0%) and physical exercise (5.2%) in non-mounted police. The most common activities being performed at the time of injury for mounted police were animal handling (64.9%) as opposed to arresting an offender (31.2%) for non-mounted police. Sprains and strains and bruises and swelling were the leading natures of injuries among both mounted (44.4% and 29.1%, respectively) and non-mounted (36.6% and 21.2%, respectively) officers. The leading body sites of injury in mounted officers were the lower back (13.9%) and neck and shoulders (7.3% each), and for non-mounted police, the knee (13.9%), lower back (10.0%), and hand (8.2%) were the most common. Mounted police officers sustained injuries through different activities, causes, and mechanisms and to different body sites at 2-3 times higher incidence rates. Mounted police officers warrant specifically tailored injury mitigation and return-to-work strategies.
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Publication Date: 2023-01-09 PubMed ID: 36673926PubMed Central: PMC9858804DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20021144Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research paper focuses on the unique injuries sustained by mounted police officers in comparison to their non-mounted counterparts. The study investigates injury data over six years and categorizes them according to factors like gender, cause, mechanism, nature and working hours.

Research Data & Scope

  • The data was sourced from a state policing agency’s incident reporting database covering the period from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2020.
  • A total of 35,406 injury cases were reported. An overwhelming majority of these, 35,255 (99.6%), involved non-mounted police officers.

Incidence Rate Variations

  • The study noted an annual incidence rate of 338-364 injuries per 1000 personnel for non-mounted police officers.
  • In contrast, the incidence rate was significantly higher among mounted police officers – between 626-952 injuries per 1000 personnel.

Injury Causes & Mechanisms

  • The leading causes of injuries for mounted police officers were slips, falls, and trips (23.8%), along with repetitive tasks and movements (9.9%).
  • Physical assault was the primary cause of injury for non-mounted police officers (21.3%), followed by slips, trips, and falls (16.0%).
  • When it comes to injury mechanism, falls from heights (15.9%) and repetitive tasks and movements (10.6%) caused the most injuries among mounted policemen, while physical assault (21.0%) and physical exercise (5.2%) were most common among non-mounted officers.

Injury Activities & Nature

  • Most injuries among mounted police officers occurred when handling animals (64.9%), while the most common activity at the time of injury for non-mounted officers was arresting an offender (31.2%).
  • The most common types of injuries among both groups were sprains and strains and bruises and swelling.

Body Site of Injury

  • The lower back (13.9%) and neck and shoulders (7.3% each) were the most commonly injured areas for mounted officers.
  • For non-mounted officers, injuries were most commonly reported at the knee (13.9%), lower back (10.0%), and hand (8.2%).

Key Findings & Recommendations

  • The study concluded that mounted police officers have a significantly higher incidence rate for injuries, which occur due to different activities, causes, and mechanisms than their non-mounted counterparts.
  • The authors suggest that mounted police officers should be provided with specialized injury mitigation and return-to-work strategies.

Cite This Article

APA
Orr R, Canetti EFD, Pope R, Lockie RG, Dawes JJ, Schram B. (2023). Characterization of Injuries Suffered by Mounted and Non-Mounted Police Officers. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 20(2), 1144. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021144

Publication

International journal of environmental research and public health
ISSN: 1660-4601
NlmUniqueID: 101238455
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 20
Issue: 2
PII: 1144

Researcher Affiliations

Orr, Robin
  • Tactical Research Unit, Bond University, Robina, QLD 4226, Australia.
  • Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, QLD 4226, Australia.
Canetti, Elisa F D
  • Tactical Research Unit, Bond University, Robina, QLD 4226, Australia.
  • Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, QLD 4226, Australia.
Pope, Rodney
  • Tactical Research Unit, Bond University, Robina, QLD 4226, Australia.
  • School of Allied Health, Exercise and Sports Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW 2640, Australia.
Lockie, Robert G
  • Department of Kinesiology, California State University, Fullerton, CA 92831, USA.
Dawes, J Jay
  • School of Kinesiology, Applied Health and Recreation, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA.
  • OSU Tactical Fitness and Nutrition Lab, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA.
Schram, Ben
  • Tactical Research Unit, Bond University, Robina, QLD 4226, Australia.
  • Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, QLD 4226, Australia.

MeSH Terms

  • Humans
  • Police
  • Law Enforcement
  • Sprains and Strains
  • Exercise
  • Incidence

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Duarte CR, Raimundo A, Sousa JP, Fernandes O, Santos R. Prevalence of Lower Back Pain and Risk Factors in Equestrians: A Systematic Review. Sports (Basel) 2024 Dec 19;12(12).
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    doi: 10.3390/healthcare12232334pubmed: 39684956google scholar: lookup
  3. Gnacinski SL, Porter FJ, Renner MN, Laska T. Influence of Body Composition on Functional Movement Among Police Officers. Int J Exerc Sci 2024;17(4):418-428.
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