Gender differences and classification of police university students relating to joint tissue flexibility

Abstract

Flexibility influences the amplitude of body parts movement and consequently the efficiency of physical activities which are an integral part of police officers training and professional duties. The aim of this study was to determine the level of flexibility in students of the University of Criminal Investigation and Police Studies (UCIPS), as well as the differences between genders and to establish the criteria for evaluation. The sample consisted of 121 participants, 51 female (age 20.2 ± 1.2 years) and 70 male students (age 20.3 ± 0.9 years). All participants were the second year students. A battery of tests for flexibility assessment included: Sideways Leg Splits (SsLS), Sideward Leg Splits right (SdLS right), Sideward Leg Splits left (SdLS_left), Single-Legged Knee Bend right (SLKB_right), Single-Legged Knee Bend left (SLKB_left), Lengthwise Leg Splits right (LLS_right), Lengthwise Leg Splits left (LLS_left), Sit and Reach (SR), and Shoulder Flexibility (SF). The existence of the differences between groups was determined by ANOVA, at the significance level of p < 0.05. The differences were found in tests SsLS (F = 11.459, p = 0.001), SdLS_right (F = 8.440, p = 0.004), SdLS_left (F = 5.502, p = 0.021), SLKB_left (F = 5.545, p = 0.025), LLS_right (F = 11.481, p = 0.001), LLS_left (F = 18.008, p = 0.000), SR (F = 7.886, p = 0.006) and SF (F = 25.447, p = 0.000). The obtained results indicated different flexibility levels between male and female students. In relation to martial arts and other athletes the UCIPS students had lower levels of flexibility. The applied percentage distribution results, including six different groups, could be used as a scale for assessment of the achieved level of flexibility in police university students.