Field Tests for Evaluating the Aerobic Work Capacity of Firefighters

Abstract

Working as a firefighter is physically strenuous, and a high level of physical fitness increases a firefighter’s ability to cope with the physical stress of their profession. Direct measurements of aerobic capacity, however, are often complicated, time consuming, and expensive. The first aim of the present study was to evaluate the correlations between direct (laboratory) and indirect (field) aerobic capacity tests with common and physically demanding firefighting tasks. The second aim was to give recommendations as to which field tests may be the most useful for evaluating firefighters’ aerobic work capacity. A total of 38 subjects (26 men and 12 women) were included. Two aerobic capacity tests, six field tests, and seven firefighting tasks were performed. Lactate threshold and onset of blood lactate accumulation were found to be correlated to the performance of one work task (rs = −0.65 and −0.63, p<0.01, respectively). Absolute (mL·min−1) and relative (mL·kg−1·min−1) maximal aerobic capacity was correlated to all but one of the work tasks (rs = −0.79 to 0.55 and −0.74 to 0.47, p<0.01, respectively). Aerobic capacity is important for firefighters’ work performance, and we have concluded that the time to row 500 m, the time to run 3000 m relative to body weight (s·kg−1), and the percent of maximal heart rate achieved during treadmill walking are the most valid field tests for evaluating a firefighter’s aerobic work capacity.

Relationships between strength and endurance parameters and air depletion rates in professional firefighters

“…Therefore, previous studies showed positive correlations between completion time and fitness variables111617. Other researchers predicted performance time by multiple regression29121415.…”

The steady-state load of five firefighting tasks

“…Thus, firefighters' are tested regularly on physical performance tests. The last decades firefighters have increasingly been tested in applied tests that mimic tasks firefighters meet during real firefighting and rescue work [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12] as alternatives to standard laboratory tests [6,7,11,13,14,15]. In Norway, Fredrikstad fire brigade has recently modified an applied test from Canada [16].…”

Loaded treadmill walking and cycle ergometry to assess work capacity: a retrospective comparison in 424 firefighters

“…Whether the most relevant measure of oxygen uptake is the absolute or the weight‐related value should be considered in the context of the intended use of the test. For example, performance time in field tests has been shown to have a higher correlation with absolute VO 2 max , than with weight‐related oxygen uptake (von Heimburg et al ., ; Lindberg et al ., ). Such findings would support the use of CE‐based testing, reflecting absolute oxygen uptake.…”