The relationship between firefighters’ physical performance characteristics and simulated firefighting demands

Authors : Mckayla SCHMİT, Mark DEBELİSO
Pages : 63-75
Doi:10.31459/turkjkin.560623
View : 43 | Download : 18
Publication Date : 2019-06-30
Article Type : Research Paper
Abstract :Prior research indicates firefighting to be a demanding and hazardous profession that places tremendous amounts of stress on the body, both physically and mentally. Likewise, degraded fitness levels can affect the firefighter’s insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(FF); ability to execute rescue tasks efficiently and places the imperiled and FF at risk for injury or death. The current study examined the relationship between physical fitness tests insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(PFT); and Simulated Fire Ground Test insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(SFGT); performance among active FF.  Twenty insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=20); male career FF insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(age 37.8±8.4 years, height 182.1±7.0 cm, body mass 95.6±8.9 kg); were assessed for PFT and the SFGT. The PFT assessments included: maximum grip strength insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(GS);, 3-minute step test, vertical jump insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(VJ);, 1-RM back squat insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(BS);, and 1-RM bench press insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(BP);. The SFGT was composed of: stair climb with hose bundle insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(SC);, 30m charged hose advance insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(CHA);, and 30m dummy drag insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(DD);. The SFGT demands were completed in full PPE insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(personal protective equipment); gear and pack. SFGT scores were then compared to the PFT scores with Pearson correlation coefficients insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r);. Grip strength demonstrated a negative moderate insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r=-0.49: p<0.05); relationship with the time to complete the CHA, a high negative relationship with the SC times insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r=-0.61: p<0.05);, a high negative relationship with the DD times insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r=-0.70: p<0.05);, and a high negative relationship the total time to complete all tasks insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r=-0.64: p<0.05);. Heart rate response, measured as %HR max following the step test demonstrated a positive moderate relationship with the time to complete the SC insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r=0.51: p<0.05);, CHA insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r=0.52: p<0.05);, and the total time to complete all tasks insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r=0.50: p<0.05);; and a positive low insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r=0.38: p<0.05); relationship with the time to complete the DD. The BP 1-RM demonstrated a negative high relationship with the time to complete the SC insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r=-0.79: p<0.05); and CHA insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r=-0.79: p<0.05);; and a negative very high relationship with the time to complete the DD insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r=-0.80: p<0.05); and the total time to complete all tasks insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r=-0.82: p<0.05);. The SQ 1-RM demonstrated a negative moderate insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r=-0.52: p<0.05); relationship with the time to complete the CHA; and a negative high relationship with the time to complete the SC insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r=-0.70: p<0.05);, DD insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r=-0.68: p<0.05);, and the total time to complete all tasks insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r=-0.70: p<0.05); insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p<0.05);. The VJ scores demonstrated a negative moderate insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r=-0.49: p<0.05); relationship with the time to complete the CHA; and a negative high relationship with the time to complete the SC insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r=-0.67: p<0.05);, DD insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r=-0.60: p<0.05);, and the total time to complete all tasks insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r=-0.66: p<0.05);. Peak power relative to body mass demonstrated a negative moderate relationship with the time to complete the SC insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r=-0.55: p<0.05);, DD insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r=-0.42: p<0.05);, and the total time to complete all tasks insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r=-0.52: p<0.05);; and a negative low non-significant relationship with the time to complete the CHA insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r=-0.30: p>0.05);. Age did not demonstrate a significant relationship with performance on any of the SGFT assessments insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p>0.05);. Within the parameters of this study, FF’s exhibited a moderate to very high relationship between PFT and the execution of simulated firefighting demands.
Keywords : Firefighter, firefighting demands, physical fitness

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