Officer Health & Fitness

[Marchetti, David, M]

Smiles I know I am getting older and health was never really an issue for myself but I have noticed some minor changes over the years. Does anyone else have a problem with leg muscle loss, painful legs, charlie horses, numbness after a shift of patrol work in a vehicle that passes?. That and I have seem to have been meeting more security officers with blood pressure problems, hypertension related to the job?. I have cleaned out the basement and am going to buy some equipment i.e. treadmill, bike, weights, and start working out a little, and cut back on snacking or eat more healthy. " Raises his hands and drops his glazed donut ". I switched from regular coffee to decaffeinated too and notice a difference in a few days. I heard one company in Connecticut actually pay's their officers to workout as a group, nice idea. And some client companies are offering security staff access with a waver to their fitness centers. Anyone got feed back on this.

[outofplacevikingfan]

I think it's normal as you get older I haven't experienced the same things you've talked about, I'm still a little younger though . I think a common thing between security and law enforcement is that your breaks are never on the same time because something could come up. And I don't know about you but not a lot of cops bring there lunch to work so the food that is put into some peoples bodies are not the best. I have high blood pressure but you can get that just from your stress level if you have that.

The good thing is I don't thing your ever to old to start some type of workout program.

[GCMC Security]

I turn 30 in a couple months and found out last week my cholestorol is HIGH. Very high. I don't believe I eat too badly and I excersice a few times a week. I have a family history of heart related issues so now I'm taking it very seriously. Docs got me on medication and I have started really paying attention to what i eat.

[Defensive tactics]

If you would like more information of health and fitness please send me a PM

Ben Wallace

[HotelSecurity]

I found out I was diabetic 3 years ago but probably had been for about 10 without knowing it. The 1st year I almost lost a foot due to a diabetic foot ulcer that became infected & got into the bone. (Up to 80% of people who get this have to have some type of amputation - I was REALLY lucky). Now it's my eyes, The diabetis is under control but the eyes have been damaged. I have a hard time reading. So far I'm managing.

IF YOU ARE MALE, OVER 45 AND OVER WEIGHT - GET A BLOOD TEST, It is simple. I wish I had done it!!

[outofplacevikingfan]

I don't have any proof to back me up, but in my experience I think at least high blood pressure might be a common for public safety.

[wjohnc]

Does anyone else have a problem with leg muscle loss, painful legs, charlie horses, numbness after a shift of patrol work in a vehicle that passes?

Well, firstly, that disappearing numbness after vehicle patrol is a pinched nerve. When you stand for a while it rights itself. Modify your method of gear carry, change position of your seat, experiment. There could come a day when the nerve does not right itself.

As I worked foot patrol almost the entirety of my career I've found that my legs strength increased considerably (which certainly helped the arthritis in my knee), but at the same time has been hard on my knees, hips, feet. Unfortunately, I've also found that as I got older my, um, abdominal area became a little larger. I've also found that my elbows and fingers are not what they used to be thanks to the untold thousands of doors and windows I've checked over the years. And, finally, all the gear (my own lights, knife, etc) I've carried over the years have had a negative impact on my back and weight-bearing joints (hips, knees, feet).

These types of pains are normal in the fields of security and law enforcement, just as back and shoulder pain is normal in janitors (no double meaning there, it's just an example).

And, sadly, pain is expected as the body gets older, or, as I choose to say, as the body wears out.

To combat all this you could get gym equipment to work on, but it has always been my firm belief that you get better exercise putting all that crap together than working out on it. Go outside, walk briskly, chop some wood, Get a Dog, and any homemaker will tell you that cleaning a house top to bottom is fantastic exercise.
And don't forget: diet really is everything - everything in moderation.


carpe diem
wjohnc

[N. A. Corbier]

When I was younger, my second year doing this and on patrol, I learned something very important from a former NYPD officer who retired in Florid and became a van driver at a hotel...

Move everything up front, or to your hips. Don't put things on your back. You fall? Crushed nerves from that NYPD handcuff case in the small of the back. Make sure your gear is equally distributed.

You should not feel your gear, you should be able to forget its there. If you can't, move it around till you can.

Oh, and... lighten your load. Carry light handcuffs if you can. Now days, they're ASP or Titanium or whatever. Carry what you only need.

The moment he retired on pension, and got down to Florida, his back went nuts because the career load his hips carried was gone. He needed surgery.

[jeff194307]

AS the man said "don't get old, it hurts to get old"