Design and Implementation of Fitness Programs for Firefighters

Abel, Mark G.; Sell, Katie; Dennison, Katie

doi:10.1519/ssc.0b013e318212f412

Cited by 18 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…20 Thus, valid field-expedient assessments of power output, such as the BOMB throw, are necessary to monitor the impact and efficacy of these training programs on an individual's power output.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Backwards overhead medicine ball throw and countermovement jump performance among firefighter candidates

Cornell¹,

Gnacinski²,

Langford³

et al. 2015

Journal of Trainology

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Objectives:To examine the relationships between performance during a backward overhead medicine ball (BOMB) throw and measures of countermovement jump (CMJ) performance among firefighter candidates. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Forty-three firefighter candidates volunteered to participate in this study (age = 28.1 ± 7.1 yrs; height = 180.6 ± 6.0 cm; weight = 88.6 ± 12.3 kg). Bivariate Pearson correlations were used to examine the relationship between BOMB throw performance (m/kg) and measures of CMJ performance, including: peak CMJ height (cm/kg), peak CMJ force output (N/kg), peak CMJ velocity (cm/sec/kg), and peak CMJ power output (W/kg). Results: Statistically significant (p < 0.05) correlations were identified between: BOMB throw and peak CMJ height (r = 0.693, p < 0.001), peak CMJ force output (r = 0.349, p = 0.022), and peak CMJ velocity (r = 0.477, p < 0.001). Although significant relationships were identified between BOMB throw performance and several of CMJ performance measures, BOMB throw performance accounted for little of the total variance between these measures (R 2 = 7-48%). Furthermore, the relationship between BOMB throw and peak CMJ power output was not statistically significant (r = 0.292, p = 0.057). Conclusions: These results imply that the BOMB throw lacks criterion-reference validity to other standard field-based measures of power output. Thus, practitioners should exhibit caution when utilizing the BOMB throw to assess power output among firefighter candidates. In addition, future research should examine the criterion-reference validity of other field-expedient assessments among firefighter candidates and active-duty firefighters.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Backwards overhead medicine ball throw and countermovement jump performance among firefighter candidates

Cornell¹,

Gnacinski²,

Langford³

et al. 2015

Journal of Trainology

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“…Firefighting is an inherently dangerous and physically demanding occupation (Abel, Sell, & Dennison, 2011). National firefighter injury and fatality rates have been well documented, though the literature presents little direction for training these tactical athletes and there are no standardized requirements for fitness in the fire service.…”

Section: Research Problemmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Firefighting is a strenuous and physically demanding occupation (Abel, Sell, & Dennison, 2011). Firefighters perform dangerous tasks in varied and complex environments leading to an increased risk for injuries and fatalities (Haynes & Molis, 2015).…”

Section: Chapter 2 -Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Circuit Training also allowed multiple firefighters to train simultaneously in the same area and could be modified based on available equipment. However, Campos et al found it may be important to incorporate sets with heavier loads (ie: ≥85% 1RM) and longer recovery periods to enhance strength gains as a supplement to circuit training (Abel, Sell, & Dennison, 2011). Pawlak et al, used the Gerkin protocol for their estimated VO 2max , however Mier & Gibson (2004), found that the Gerkin protocol overestimates VO 2max and should not be used for predicting VO 2max in individual firefighters.…”

Section: Tactical Occupational Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The First Twenty Exercise Training Program and Fire Academy Recruits’ Fitness and Health

Hollerbach

Jahnke

Barstow

et al. 2017

Medicine &Amp; Science in Sports &Amp; Exercise

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Firefighting is an inherently dangerous occupation with high rates of injuries and fatalities, with the majority of line of duty fatalities due to cardiovascular events. Additionally, firefighters struggle with poor health and low levels of fitness, including very high (>80%) rates of overweight and obesity likely related to the culture of the fire service. Limited resources exist for fire departments that are sensitive to the culture and work requirements of these "tactical athletes". Though there has been increasing interest in circuit-type high intensity exercise training programs, key research data are lacking for the firefighter population and few studies have focused on training firefighter recruits. PURPOSE: The purpose of this pilot investigation was to examine a novel physical training program on fire academy recruits' health, fitness, and performance, in addition to examining the programs' acceptability, feasibility, and future efficacy. METHODS: Thirteen participants were recruited from an entry level fire academy and were randomly assigned to either the control (CG, n=6) or intervention exercise group (TF20, n=7). Due to attrition within the first two weeks of the study, 10 male fire recruits (23±3 years) completed the study (CG, n=3, TF20, n=7). The CG were asked to continue their current exercise habits. TF20 were provided an online-based training program (The First 20) that included periodized workouts, nutritional information, and mental readiness education. All participants completed baseline and post-intervention assessments and 10-weeks of exercise training. Health assessments included resting and post-exercise heart rate and blood pressure and estimated VO 2max . Anthropometric measures included height, weight, % body fat, % lean mass, and BMI. Performance was measured using the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT). Psychosocial measures were assessed by a short questionnaire. A feasibility analysis was also completed for those in TF20 group. Due to the small sample size and group differences at baseline, descriptive statistics were calculated and each participant was reviewed as an individual case study. The Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test was used to test for significance among TF20 group. RESULTS: This pilot investigation provided effect sizes and parameter estimates necessary for the design of a larger randomized controlled trial. Even with a small sample size, TF20 group showed improvement on numerous outcome measures including CPAT performance (40% passing at baseline to 86% passing post-intervention). Of five TF20 participants completing the CPAT at baseline and post-intervention, four improved their passing time. TF20 participants significantly increased estimated VO 2max (p=0.028) and significantly improved body composition (decreased fat mass (kg) and % fat mass, p=0

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“…Application of these legal requirements or similar requirements in other countries applied to physically demanding occupations especially in which "ineffective job performance can result in loss of life or property" [32] have been the subject of various articles and reports throughout the years (e.g., [33][34][35][36][37][38][39]; Canada [40][41][42]; Australia [43]; Britain [29,44]). In addition to military focused assessments (e.g., [23,29,[45][46][47][48][49]), perhaps even a greater number of studies have addressed other physically demanding occupations such as firefighters [43,50,51] as well as police/correctional/peace officers [32,42,[52][53][54]. Many of the required tasks required by these occupations are similar to those of military tasks.…”

Section: Federal Requirements For Validating Occupational Physical Stmentioning

confidence: 99%

Correlations between Physical Fitness Tests and Performance of Military Tasks: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses

Hauschild¹,

DeGroot²,

Hall³

et al. 2014

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To help evaluate the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) and ensure a future test is associated with Soldiers' performance of common physical job requirements, the USAPHC applied a Systematic Review (SR) methodology to identify and synthesize published correlations between military task performance and physical fitness tests. Methods: A preliminary step to our SR was to identify key military-relevant tasks and physical fitness components of interest. Starting with the Army's Warrior Tasks and Battle Drills (WTBDs), twelve task categories were identified, including some tasks performed by both military and civilian occupations (e.g., firefighters, police, and athletes). Physical fitness tests were sorted into four physical fitness groups: cardiorespiratory endurance (e.g., aerobic fitness), muscle strength, muscle endurance, and flexibility. Tests of muscular strength and muscular endurance were further subcategorized into Upper and Lower Body, Core, or Whole Body regions. Physical tests included the APFT events (2-mile run, sit ups, push-ups) as well as other equipment and non-equipment physical fitness tests (e.g., jump tests, squats, sprints, pull-ups, grip tests, arm lifts, curls, and various extension machine tests). To synthesize the data, a series of meta-analyses provided pooled correlation coefficients for the twelve tasks and eleven physical fitness test groups. Results: Flexibility tests were the least frequently identified, while upper body strength tests were most frequently identified in studies that met our inclusion criteria. Correlations with aerobic tests were fairly well studied, with a few notable gaps (e.g., the Loaded March task). Pooled r coefficients for specific physical tests (e.g., run tests, push-ups, sit-ups, grip tests, and vertical and broad jump tests) were also calculated. Of the physical fitness component groups evaluated, aerobic capacity is most strongly correlated across the greatest number of military tasks (highest r = 0.80, average r for all tasks = 0.53, average r for the top 5 tasks = 0.68, r value range = 0.30-0.80). Of next importance, muscular strength and endurance both have strong correlations with lifting, lowering, stretcher carry and crawl (average for top 5 tasks= r >0.50). Lower body strength and endurance tests (average top 5 task r = 0.63 and r = 0.58) are of similar strength to correlations for top correlations with upper body endurance (average top 5 task r = 0.57). Core endurance, and sit-ups specifically, are weakly correlated with most tasks (average r for all tasks= 0.33; for top 5 tasks r = 0.38). Conclusions: A test of aerobic capacity is fundamental for assessing Soldiers' basic physical capacity to conduct critical tasks, while sit-ups do not appear to be an important test. Muscle strength and endurance are also critical physical components. Since the current APFT does not include a measure of muscle strength or power, consideration should be given to fill this gap in future testing requirements.

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Design and Implementation of Fitness Programs for Firefighters

Cited by 18 publications

References 16 publications

Backwards overhead medicine ball throw and countermovement jump performance among firefighter candidates

Backwards overhead medicine ball throw and countermovement jump performance among firefighter candidates

The First Twenty Exercise Training Program and Fire Academy Recruits’ Fitness and Health

Correlations between Physical Fitness Tests and Performance of Military Tasks: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses

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