A Discussion of Exercise Programs Performed During Firefighter Training Academies

Abstract

Firefighting is a physically demanding occupation that requires individuals to possess considerably high levels of muscular endurance, strength, power, and aerobic fitness. Under most circumstances, a firefighter's career begins with a training academy during which they learn essential job tasks (e.g., victim rescue) while performing a variety of exercise programs. Based on the current literature, several forms of resistance, aerobic, circuit, concurrent, and functional training positively affect the physical fitness and occupational performance of firefighter recruits. Because many fire departments have limited gym access, it is most practical for training academies to adopt exercise programs that can be completed with their academy's specific equipment and facility confines. Luckily, the research discussed within this paper demonstrates that effective training can be performed with minimal and maximal facility/equipment access. Regarding future studies, it would be interesting for researchers to compare the effects of minimal-equipment and maximal-equipment programs and apply training plans that combine these 2 extremes. Moreover, to accommodate the execution and learning of occupational tasks, researchers should explore periodizing training plans around the current physical demands of the academy while applying minimum effective training doses.