FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
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.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2023-01-09 PubMed ID: 36673926PubMed Central: PMC9858804DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20021144Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

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.

References

This article includes 27 references
  1. Orr R, Hinton B, Wilson A, Pope R, Dawes J. Investigating the Routine Dispatch Tasks Performed by Police Officers. Safety 2020;6:54.
    doi: 10.3390/safety6040054google scholar: lookup
  2. Dulla J, Baran K, Pope R, Orr R. Duty loads carried by the LA sheriff’s department officers. J. Sci. Med. Sport 2017;20:S5–S6.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2017.09.010google scholar: lookup
  3. Dawes JJ, Orr RM, Flores RR, Lockie RG, Kornhauser C, Holmes R. A physical fitness profile of state highway patrol officers by gender and age.. Ann Occup Environ Med 2017;29:16.
    doi: 10.1186/s40557-017-0173-0pmc: PMC5455072pubmed: 28588897google scholar: lookup
  4. Lyons K, Radburn C, Orr R, Pope R. A Profile of Injuries Sustained by Law Enforcement Officers: A Critical Review.. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2017 Feb 3;14(2).
    doi: 10.3390/ijerph14020142pmc: PMC5334696pubmed: 28165373google scholar: lookup
  5. Nowrouzi-Kia B, Gohar B, Casole J, Chidu C, Dumond J, McDougall A, Nowrouzi-Kia B. A systematic review of lost-time injuries in the global mining industry.. Work 2018;60(1):49-61.
    doi: 10.3233/WOR-182715pubmed: 29733036google scholar: lookup
  6. Larsen B, Aisbett B, Silk A. The Injury Profile of an Australian Specialist Policing Unit.. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2016 Mar 25;13(4):370.
    doi: 10.3390/ijerph13040370pmc: PMC4847032pubmed: 27023586google scholar: lookup
  7. Fuller C.M.. New South Wales Police Force Annual Report 2018–2019. New South Wales Police Force 2019.
  8. Sefton JM, Lohse KR, McAdam JS. Prediction of Injuries and Injury Types in Army Basic Training, Infantry, Armor, and Cavalry Trainees Using a Common Fitness Screen.. J Athl Train 2016 Nov;51(11):849-857.
    doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-51.9.09pmc: PMC5224725pubmed: 28068160google scholar: lookup
  9. Nindl BC, Williams TJ, Deuster PA, Butler NL, Jones BH. Strategies for optimizing military physical readiness and preventing musculoskeletal injuries in the 21st century.. US Army Med Dep J 2013 Oct-Dec;:5-23.
    pubmed: 24146239
  10. Bonneau J, Brown J. Physical ability, fitness and police work.. J Clin Forensic Med 1995 Sep;2(3):157-64.
    doi: 10.1016/1353-1131(95)90085-3pubmed: 15335647google scholar: lookup
  11. Orr R, Pope R, Stierli M, Hinton B. Grip Strength and Its Relationship to Police Recruit Task Performance and Injury Risk: A Retrospective Cohort Study.. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2017 Aug 21;14(8).
    doi: 10.3390/ijerph14080941pmc: PMC5580643pubmed: 28825688google scholar: lookup
  12. Simas V, Schram B, Canetti EFD, Maupin D, Orr R. Factors Influencing Marksmanship in Police Officers: A Narrative Review.. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022 Oct 31;19(21).
    doi: 10.3390/ijerph192114236pmc: PMC9655518pubmed: 36361117google scholar: lookup
  13. Schram B, Orr R, Pope R. A Profile of Knee Injuries Suffered by Australian Army Reserve Soldiers.. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2018 Dec 20;16(1).
    doi: 10.3390/ijerph16010012pmc: PMC6339105pubmed: 30577566google scholar: lookup
  14. Sullivan CS, Shimizu KT. Epidemiological studies of work-related injuries among law enforcement personnel.. J Soc Occup Med 1988 Spring-Summer;38(1-2):33-40.
    doi: 10.1093/occmed/38.1-2.33pubmed: 2967402google scholar: lookup
  15. Irving S, Orr R, Pope R. Profiling the Occupational Tasks and Physical Conditioning of Specialist Police.. Int J Exerc Sci 2019;12(3):173-186.
    pmc: PMC6355130pubmed: 30761201
  16. Marins E, Barbosa O, Machado E, Orr R, Dawes J, Del Vecchio F. Profile of Self-Reported Physical Tasks and Physical Training in Brazilian Special Operations Units: A Web-Based Cross-Sectional Study.. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020 Sep 29;17(19).
    doi: 10.3390/ijerph17197135pmc: PMC7579199pubmed: 33003530google scholar: lookup
  17. . Specialist Roles and Areas for Police Officers. Victoria Police .
  18. . The Mounted Police Unit. Australian Police .
  19. Orr RM, Ford K, Stierli M. Implementation of an Ability-Based Training Program in Police Force Recruits.. J Strength Cond Res 2016 Oct;30(10):2781-2787.
    doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000000898pubmed: 27658234google scholar: lookup
  20. Orr R, Pope R, Peterson S, Hinton B, Stierli M. Leg Power As an Indicator of Risk of Injury or Illness in Police Recruits.. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2016 Feb 19;13(2):237.
    doi: 10.3390/ijerph13020237pmc: PMC4772257pubmed: 26907311google scholar: lookup
  21. Boyce R.W., Hiatt A.R., Jones G.R.. Workers’ compensation claims and physical fitness capacity of police officers. Health Values 1992;16:22–29.
  22. Cho TS, Jeon WJ, Lee JG, Seok JM, Cho JH. Factors affecting the musculoskeletal symptoms of korean police officers.. J Phys Ther Sci 2014 Jun;26(6):925-30.
    doi: 10.1589/jpts.26.925pmc: PMC4085223pubmed: 25013298google scholar: lookup
  23. Lentz L, Voaklander D, Gross DP, Guptill CA, Senthilselvan A. A description of musculoskeletal injuries in a Canadian police service.. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2020 Jan 17;33(1):59-66.
    doi: 10.13075/ijomeh.1896.01454pubmed: 31691680google scholar: lookup
  24. Sawyer S, Schram B, Pope R, Orr R. Profiling the Injuries Sustained by Police Trainees Undergoing Initial Training: A Retrospective Cohort Study.. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 Jul 8;18(14).
    doi: 10.3390/ijerph18147335pmc: PMC8303487pubmed: 34299785google scholar: lookup
  25. Lyons K, Stierli M, Hinton B, Pope R, Orr R. Profiling lower extremity injuries sustained in a state police population: a retrospective cohort study.. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2021 Jan 26;22(1):115.
    doi: 10.1186/s12891-021-03986-3pmc: PMC7839182pubmed: 33499859google scholar: lookup
  26. Hua M., Orr R.M., Stierli M.. Profiling a workplace physiotherapy and rehabilitation program within a police force. Proceedings of the CONNECT 2015 Physiotherapy Conference Australian Physiotherapy Association Conference; Gold Coast, Australia. 3–6 October 2015.
  27. Campbell P, Pope R, Simas V, Canetti E, Schram B, Orr R. The Effects of Early Physiotherapy Treatment on Musculoskeletal Injury Outcomes in Military Personnel: A Narrative Review.. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022 Oct 17;19(20).
    doi: 10.3390/ijerph192013416pmc: PMC9602812pubmed: 36293997google scholar: lookup

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).
    doi: 10.3390/sports12120355pubmed: 39728895google scholar: lookup
  2. Reilly L, Chan J, Thevanesan T, Orr R, Dawes J, Lockie R, Canetti E, Schram B. Profiling the Occupational Injuries Sustained by Custody Officers: A Systematic Review. Healthcare (Basel) 2024 Nov 22;12(23).
    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.
    doi: 10.70252/GECN7769pubmed: 38665861google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,970 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.