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Tactical Strength and Conditioning

(55) ASSESSING DIFFERENCES IN HEALTH AND PHYSICAL CAPABILITIES BETWEEN FIREFIGHTER RECRUITS AND INCUMBENTS ACROSS RANKS

Thursday, July 13, 2023
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM East Coast USA Time
Location: Milano III-IV

    Poster Presenter(s)

  • Katie G. Kennedy, MS

    Graduate Assistant
    University of South Alabama
    Mobile, Alabama, United States

    • Author(s)

  • Kealey J. Wohlgemuth, MA, CSCS,*D, CISSN

    Graduate Part-Time Instructor
    Texas Tech University
    Surf City, North Carolina, United States

  • MC

    Michael J. Conner

    Chief Research Officer
    Front Line Mobile Health
    Georgetown, Texas, United States

  • AJ

    Alex Jesko

    Director of Cardiopulmonary Services
    Front Line Mobile Health
    Georgetown, Texas, United States

  • VF

    Vanessa Frost

    Health and Fitness Coordinator
    Travis County Emergency Services District #2
    Pflugerville, Texas, United States

  • JM

    Jacob A. Mota

    Assistant Professor of Kinesiology
    Texas Tech University
    Lubbock, Texas, United States

Abstract Details: Across all ranks, fire service personnel perform strenuous tasks to maintain public safety. However, the health and physical capabilities of firefighters across ranks has yet to be assessed.

Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to determine differences in characteristics of health and physical ability between cadets, firefighters, and officers within the fire service.

Methods: Retrospective data were obtained from 37 Cadets (Mean ± SD; Age: 29 ± 5 years; 5 Females), 82 Firefighters (Age: 30 ± 7 years; 6 Females), and 41 Officers (Age: 41 ± 6 years; 1 Female) following annual departmental physical screenings. Participant height and body mass were measured and used to calculate body mass index (BMI). Body fat percentage (%BF) was measured using multifrequency bioelectrical impedance. Participants completed a cycle-based, graded exercise test to determine maximal oxygen consumption (VO2Max) during which maximal heart rate (HRmax) was recorded. Finally, while in full bunker gear, all participants completed an air consumption test (ACT) for time. The ACT included a one-arm hose carry, ladder carry, hose drag, sled pull, forcible entry, victim rescue, ladder lower, equipment carry, and two ladder climbs in a single, timed bout. Six separate, one-way, analyses of variance were performed, in addition to partial eta squared (η2) effect size measures, to examine differences in health and physical ability metrics across firefighter ranks. In the event of a significant main effect, Bonferroni-corrected post-hoc analyses were utilized. Data were presented as mean ± standard deviation. Alpha level was set a priori at 0.05.

Results: There was a significant effect of rank on BMI (F(2,157) = 4.63; p = 0.01, η2 =0.06). Cadets demonstrated significantly lower BMI (26.50 ± 2.33 kg/m2) than that of firefighters (28.80 ± 4.35 kg/m2; p = 0.01) and officers (28.60 ± 4.33 kg/m2; p = 0.04). There was a significant effect of rank on %BF (F(2,155) = 10.66; p < 0.001; η2 = 0.12). Cadets had significantly lower %BF (17.50 ± 4.99%) compared to firefighters (24.10 ± 8.46%; p < 0.001) and officers (23.90 ± 7.30%; p < 0.001). There was a significant effect of rank on relative VO2Max (F(2,157) = 14.09; p < 0.001, η2 = 0.15). Cadets displayed greater VO2Max (40.40 ± 4.63 ml/kg/min) than both firefighters (34.50 ± 6.37 ml/kg/min; p < 0.001) and officers (34.20 ± 6.46 ml/kg/min; p < 0.001), but there were no significant differences between ranks in absolute VO2Max (F(2,157) = 2.89, p = 0.059, η2 = 0.04; 3.18 ± 0.56 L/min). There was a significant effect of rank on HRmax (F(2,157) = 4.32; p = 0.015; η2 = 0.05). Cadets reached a significantly greater HRmax (181.0 ± 9.29 bpm) during the VO2 assessment than officers (174.0 ± 10.9 bpm; p = 0.01), but not firefighters (177.0 ± 11.3 bpm; p = 0.12). Finally, no significant differences existed between ranks in time to completion of the ACT (F(2,157) = 0.82; p = 0.44; η2 = 0.01; 7.05 ± 0.74 min).

Conclusions: The present findings demonstrate differences in anthropometric and physiological metrics between recruits and incumbent firefighters of various ranks. Recruits demonstrated better aerobic capacity and body composition than their more senior counterparts. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Given the prevalence of obesity and cardiorespiratory diseases present within this physically demanding occupation, rigorous, yet feasible, interventions must be implemented to maintain health and performance values across firefighter ranks.

Acknowledgements: None