Page 67 - JSOM Summer 2025

TABLE 2 Key Information Regarding the Design, Aims and Data Sources of Each Included Study
Data collection Level of
Study (year) Title Aim/objective/hypothesis Study design method evidence*
Fredella et al. Injury frequency and The purpose of this study was to examine Cross-sectional Self-report IV
(2024) 36 location comparison differences in pain and injury locations and survey
of FT and PT SWAT average length of injury time between PT and
operators FT SWAT operators.
Larsen et al. Injury profile of an This study aimed to quantify the frequency Retrospective Database III-2
(2016) 21 Australian Specialist and types of injury sustained by a state-based, cohort
Policing Unit specialist police division in Australia.
*Australian NHMRC guidelines used to determine the level of evidence 54
FT = full-time; PT = part-time; SWAT = Special Weapons and Tactics.

TABLE 3 Injury Definitions, Participants, and Main Findings from Each Included Study
Study (year) Injury definition Participant details Main findings
Fredella et al. None • SWAT operators (n=72) • Injury incidence: N/R
(2024) 36 ο FT, n=24 • Broad locations of injury (e.g. lower limb)
ο PT, n=48 ο Top 3 sub-locations of injury
• Mean height 171 (SD37) cm – Lower back 24.6%
• Mean weight 87.9 (SD 21.9) kg – Shoulder 12.8%
• Age range 26-35 years – Knee 10.2%
• Male (100%)* – N/R
• Types of injury: N/R
• Mechanisms of injury / task at time of injury: N/R
Larsen et al. For the purpose • State specialist police unit (n = 138) • Injury incidence: 1,347 per 1,000 per annum.
(2016) 21 of the study, • FT/PT status, height, weight, and age: • Broad locations of injury (e.g., lower limb): N/R
injury was N/R ο Sub-locations of injury (Top 3)
defined as any ο Male (n=131, 94.9%) – Hand/wrist 21%
mild physical ο Female (n=7, 5.1%) – Back 16.6%
harm (e.g., – Head/neck 16.2%
bruises), or any • Mechanisms of injury / task at time of injury (top 3)
major physical ο Non-compliant offender 31.4%
harm involving ο Routine duties 21%
outpatient ο Training (operational) 17.5%
or inpatient • Types of injury
treatment. ο Sprain/strain 61.1%.
• Other key findings
ο Across the 4 years, claims were submitted for 33% of
injuries. In total, 1,107 shifts were lost to injury; total
accumulated costs for injuries was $487,159 AUD.
*Female operators were excluded from the study due to low numbers (n=3).
FT = full-time; N/R =not reported; PT = part-time; SWAT = Special Weapons and Tactics.

incidence was only reported in one study and was found to be for specialist police in the included articles. Of the included
1,347 per 1,000 personnel per annum. It has been previously articles, only one included a specific injury definition. Injury
reported that LEO GD injury incidence can vary between 240 definitions and thresholds for the severity of MSIs included
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and 2,500 per 1,000 personnel per annum. However, it was in reporting could impact reported incidence rates between
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suggested in the review reporting the LEO GD incidence that different populations. There are no published articles spe-
3
the three studies with incidence rates greater than 1,000 per cifically comparing these populations and the causes of their
1,000 personnel per annum collected their data via surveys injuries, to explain this vast difference. However, job tasks,
and workers compensation claim databases, 18,24,55 which may operating environments, equipment, and training all vary be-
not be as accurate as a database that stores medical reports or tween these populations, and these differences may provide
data collected at the point of care. If the GD studies that used some explanation. Further research is needed to confirm this
this type of data only are considered, the incidence rate would possibility and to further elucidate the specific causes of the
be 240 to 710 per 1,000 personnel per annum. 1,19,21,25,26,56 observed difference between the two populations in incidence
Based on this assessment, the results of this review suggests rates.
that specialist police officers may have a similar or higher in-
jury incidence rate to that of GD LEOs. When compared to The articles included in this review did not report broad ana-
non-tactical organizations, the injury incidence rates for spe- tomical sites of injury as previously reported in GD LEO re-
cialist police officers were much higher than those reported in search, wherein the upper extremity ‘other’ (site not specified)
the major industrial sectors, being 0.88 to 1.57 per 1,000 em- and torso/back were the most common sites of injury. 1,3,21-26 The
ployees per annum across agriculture, manufacturing, health- results of this review suggest the leading anatomical sub-sites
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care, and construction. This higher rate could be due to the of injury in specialist police can vary; however, both studies
heavier loads worn and nature of tasks performed by these reported the back or lower back as one of the leading sub-sites,
specialists. When comparing the specialist police officer injury suggesting this injury location may be common even across
incidence rate to those for Military SF personnel, Military SF different countries and units of specialist police. 21,36 Within
Operators reported between 1.42 and 2.77 39,40 injuries per the included studies, the other most common anatomical in-
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1,000 personnel per annum, much lower than that reported jury sub-sites reported were hand/wrist, head/neck, shoulder,
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Injuries in Specialist Police Officers | 65