Milivoj Dopsaj1, Goran Vuckovic1
1Policijska akademija, Beograd
INDICATORS OF MAXIMAL FLEXOR FORCE OF LEFT AND RIGHT HAND FOR THE POLICE SELECTION CRITERIA PURPOSES
POKAZATELJI MAKSIMALNE SILE PREGIBAČA LEVE I DESNE ŠAKE U FUNKCIJI SELEKCIONOG KRITERIJUMA ZA POTREBE POLICIJE
Sport Mont 2006, IV(10-11), 148-154
As a part of their professional responsibilities, police officers have authorization, in
situation determined by law, to apply physical force or means of force. Due to given professional
reasons, selection among the candidates as well as routine physical capability assessments,
should have professional-methodological basis and scientific foundation. Muscle
groups of particular reference in relationship to estimate general contraction characteristic
in regard to force, and at the same time very easy to test are flexor muscles of fingers of
the hand (test “hand squeeze”). The aim of this research is to define criterion characteristic
for the population to function for selection and estimation of the hand squeeze force among
policemen.
This research had 723 participants, students of the Police Academy, as representatives
of policemen between 19 and 24 years of age. In order to estimate force of hand grip (both
right and left hand), we utilized tensiometric method, and standard procedure previously
described (1). For the statistical analysis we used basic descriptive analysis, cluster analysis
(defining 7 characteristic classes (clusters) as a function of population tested –unacceptable,
poor, below average, averaged, above average, excellent and superior), and factor analysis
(definition of the selection test as a function of selection procedure) (10).
Our results indicate that averaged hand grip force among the tested population is
61.70±8.97 DaN (Min – Max=43.43-101.41) for left hand, and 65.11±9.34 DaN (Min –
Max= 46.54-109.75) for right hand. The values for the force of defined cluster centers of
left hand are: Cluster1-7=50.22, 55.76, 61.61, 67.84, 74.71, 84.02 and 97.15 DaN, and right
hand are: Cluster1-7=53.40, 60.27, 66.10, 72.20, 79.70, 92.55 and 105.65 DaNFactor analysis results have shown that one factor has been isolated that accounted for
91.10 worthy variance. Regarding the individual variability, for the saturation of the isolated
factor the right hand participated with 95.8% force, while left hand participated with
95.0% force. We have therefore demonstrated, among tested population, measurement of
right hand force is more representative estimation of the given variable. Based on the distribution
of results for right hand force, as function of isolated cluster criterion, distribution of
the tested population in respect to Cluster1-7 is following: 18.53%, 27.94%, 24.62%,
17.98%, 8.02%, 2.63%, 0.28%, respectively. The value of the bordering minimum for right
hand force of Cluster 2 is 56.87 DaN, which represents 18.5‰ (percentile) of tested population.
In regard to tested policemen population between 19 and 24 years of age, results of
right hand grip force is test of choice for estimation of maximal hand flexor force. The
value of inflexion point (point of separation in regard to selection criterion – acceptable/
unacceptable) is on the level of 56.87 DaN, for the right hand grip force and its placed
among 18.5‰ (percentile) of tested population. maximal hand grip force, police, selection criteria.
Abstract
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