Associations of Anthropometric and Strength Determinants With Walking and Running Economy in German Male and Female Police Officers

This cross-sectional study assessed the associations between anthropometry, isometric maximal strength and rapid force production, and exercise economy (EE) in male and female police officers. Thirty-six male and 27 female German police officers (age 30.2 ± 5.8 years, estimated o2peak 42.4 ± 4.5 ml·min−1·kg−1) completed an anthropometric assessment (body height, mass, and composition) followed by isometric maximal (leg press, upright pull, hand grip) and dynamic strength assessment (countermovement jump [CMJ], squat jump [SJ], and drop jump height) and an incremental treadmill test (1.6 + 0.4 m·s−1 every 5 minutes) to determine EE and speed corresponding to 4 mmol·L−1 (V4). Isometric maximal strength did not correlate statistically with EE or V4 (−0.31 < r < 0.30, p > 0.05), whereas CMJ (22.4 ± 4.0 cm) was statistically correlated with EE at 1.6 m·s−1 (46.1 ± 3.3 ml·min−1·kg−0.75) and SJ (20.9 ± 4.3 cm) with EE at 1.6 and 2.0 m·s−1 (74.2 ± 5.7 ml·min−1·kg−0.75), only in females (r > 0.41, p < 0.05). Fat mass (14.4 ± 5.2 kg) and age (29.6 ± 5.8 years) were statistically correlated with V4 in males (3.1 ± 0.4 m·s−1) and females (2.8 ± 0.3 m·s−1), respectively (r < −0.54, p < 0.01), whereas lean mass (49.8 ± 4.1 kg) was statistically correlated with EE at 2.4 m·s−1 (86.0 ± 5.0 ml·min−1·kg−0.75) in females only (r = 0.57, p < 0.01). Higher maximal strength and rapid force production were not associated with better walking or running EE or aerobic performance in male and female police officers.