A comparison of two physical ability tests for firefighters.

Smoke diving is physically demanding, and firefighters must therefore meet certain minimum physical requirements. The aim of this study was to compare the physiological demands of two fire fitness tests: a test of 8-min treadmill walking approved by the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority (NLIA) (...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Ergonomics Vol. 56; no. 10; pp. 1558 - 1569
Autores principales: Mamen, Asgeir, Oseland, Harald, Medbø, Jon Ingulf
Formato: research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Taylor & Francis Ltd Oct2013
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
fields @attributes:
  recordID: 1
pdfLink:
plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=104158508&site=ehost-live
header:
  @attributes:
    shortDbName: ccm
    uiTerm: 104158508
    longDbName: CINAHL Complete
    uiTag: AN
  controlInfo:
    bkinfo:
    dissinfo:
    jinfo:
      jid:
        00140139
        ERO
      jtl: Ergonomics
      issn: 00140139
      maglogo: Y
    pubinfo:
      dt: Oct2013
      vid: 56
      iid: 10
      pid: 377
      pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd
      place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    artinfo:
      ui:
        104158508
        91899726
        10.1080/00140139.2013.821171
        NLM24003848
        104158508
      ppf: 1558
      ppct: 11
      formats:
      tig:
        atl: A comparison of two physical ability tests for firefighters.
      aug:
        au:
          Mamen, Asgeir
          Oseland, Harald
          Medbø, Jon Ingulf
        affil: Institute of Physical Activity, Nutrition and Public Health, University College of Health Sciences - Campus Kristiania, Oslo, Norway; Faculty of Teacher Education and Sport, Sogn og Fjordane University College, Sogndal, Norway
      sug:
        subj:
          Physical Fitness Evaluation
          Firefighters Norway
          Human
          Lactic Acid Blood
          Canada
          Norway
          Oxygen Consumption
          Exercise Test
          Heart Rate
          Male
          Body Mass Index
          Anthropometry
          Protective Clothing
          Treadmills
          T-Tests
          Data Analysis Software
          P-Value
          Time Factors
          Aerobic Capacity
          Male
      ab: Smoke diving is physically demanding, and firefighters must therefore meet certain minimum physical requirements. The aim of this study was to compare the physiological demands of two fire fitness tests: a test of 8-min treadmill walking approved by the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority (NLIA) (a laboratory test) and a Canadian test consisting of 10 firefighting specific tasks carried out in sequence (an applied field test). If the Canadian field test is as physically demanding as the NLIA-approved laboratory test, it may be suitable for testing Norwegian firefighters. Twenty-two male professional firefighters were tested on separate days. In both tests, the subjects wore a complete firefighting outfit including a breathing apparatus. The test durations were 8 min (NLIA test) versus approximately 6 min (Canadian test). Neither the peak O2uptake (VO2) of approximately 45 ml kg − 1 min − 1nor the blood lactate concentration (BLC) at test termination ( ≈ 9 mmol L − 1) differed between the two tests. Rating of perceived exertion (RPECR-10) was lower for the Canadian test than for the Norwegian test (5.2  ±  1.5 vs. 7.0  ±  2.0, respectively), and the exercise time at a highVO2was also shorter. In conclusion, the Canadian test appeared to be almost as physically demanding as the NLIA-approved test, having equal peakVO2and BLC, but shorter time at a highVO2and shorter duration. It might thus be a suitable alternative to the NLIA test with some modifications. The advantage of the Canadian field test is the inclusion of specific firefighting-like tasks that are not part of the NLIA test. Practitioner summary:The physiological load from two firefighter fitness tests was compared. The demands were found to be similar, but the field test was of a shorter duration. With some modifications, the field test may be sufficiently demanding to be used as a fire fitness test for smoke divers in Norway.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
    refInfo:
    holdings:
      @attributes:
        islocal: N