Physical Wellness

The APD Wellness Unit is here to provide you with the resources you need to achieve your physical fitness goals.

Performing structured exercise for the purpose of building or maintaining physical fitness is well documented to improve health outcomes while minimizing the risk for certain chronic illness such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and certain types of cancer. The Cooper Institute estimates that 80 % of law enforcement professionals reach full retirement age, 14 % take early retirement or go on disability, and 6 % die during employment. Most agencies report that heart disease, musculoskeletal problems such as back injuries and stress disorders like anxiety and depression are the major reasons for disability and early retirement. The increased health risk seen in the law enforcement profession increases the need for a holistic approach to the maintenance and improvement of mental, emotional and physical health.

Physical Fitness Defined

Physical fitness is the organic condition of the body which enables an individual to use his/her body in activities requiring strength, muscular endurance, cardiorespiratory fitness, flexibility, coordination, agility, power, balance, speed and accuracy – without undue experience of fatigue and exhaustion.

Physical fitness may also be defined as the ability to carry out daily tasks with vigor and alertness, without undue fatigue and with ample energy to engage in leisure time pursuits and to meet the above-average physical stresses encountered in emergency situations. The four components of physical fitness are:

• Cardiorespiratory fitness
• Body Composition
• Flexibility
• Strength

2021 Physical Assessment

Contact Information

JD Maes
[email protected]