The impact of inter-limb leg lean tissue mass asymmetry on stair climb performance in career firefighters.
The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of inter-limb leg lean tissue mass (LTM) asymmetry on stair climb (SC) performance in firefighters. Forty-one career firefighters (age = 32.3 ± 8.2 years, body mass = 92.1 ± 18.6 kg, stature = 178.3 ± 7.9 cm) visited the laboratory on one occasi...
| Published in: | Ergonomics Vol. 68; no. 3; pp. 338 - 345 |
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
| Format: | diagnostic images pictorial research tables/charts Journal Article |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Mar2025
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| Online Access: | View this record in EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=183030099&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: ccm uiTerm: 183030099 longDbName: CINAHL Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: dissinfo: jinfo: jid: 00140139 ERO jtl: Ergonomics issn: 00140139 maglogo: Y pubinfo: dt: Mar2025 vid: 68 iid: 3 pid: 377 pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania artinfo: ui: 183030099 175955455 183030099 183030099 10.1080/00140139.2024.2327582 183030099 ppf: 338 ppct: 7 formats: tig: atl: The impact of inter-limb leg lean tissue mass asymmetry on stair climb performance in career firefighters. aug: au: Buoncristiani, Nicholas A. Gerstner, Gena R. Laffan, Megan R. Trivisonno, Abigail J. Mota, Jacob A. Giuliani-Dewig, Hayden K. Ryan, Eric D. affil: Neuromuscular Assessment Laboratory, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC sug: subj: Stair Climbing Job Performance Evaluation Body Composition Lower Extremity Physiology Firefighters Task Performance and Analysis Evaluation Human Adult Lower Extremity Adipose Tissue Distribution Absorptiometry, Photon Thigh Descriptive Statistics Age Factors Funding Source Adult: 19-44 years ab: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of inter-limb leg lean tissue mass (LTM) asymmetry on stair climb (SC) performance in firefighters. Forty-one career firefighters (age = 32.3 ± 8.2 years, body mass = 92.1 ± 18.6 kg, stature = 178.3 ± 7.9 cm) visited the laboratory on one occasion and completed a whole body and leg composition assessment followed by a timed and weighted SC task. Percent body fat (%BF) and leg LTM were determined during a DEXA scan and regional thigh analysis. Asymmetry was assessed by the percent difference between limbs (dominant limb LTM – non-dominant limb LTM)/dominant limb LTM × 100) and a ± 3% cut-off for asymmetry classification. Participants ascended and descended 26 stairs four times as quickly as possible while wearing a weighted (22 kg) vest. Point biserial correlations were used to assess the relationship of inter-limb leg LTM asymmetry and SC performance before and after controlling for age and %BF. Results indicated that inter-limb leg LTM asymmetry was associated with longer SC task time (poorer performance) both before (r = 0.432, P = 0.005) and after (r = 0.502, P = 0.001) controlling for age and %BF. Our findings indicated that inter-limb leg LTM asymmetry negatively impacts firefighter SC performance, which may be improved with appropriate exercise interventions. PRACTITIONER SUMMARY: This study examined the influence of leg inter-limb lean tissue mass (LTM) asymmetry on SC performance in career firefighters. We found that inter-limb leg LTM asymmetry was associated with reduced SC performance, prior to and after controlling for age and percent body fat. Interventions that mitigate these asymmetries may improve occupational performance. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: diagnostic images pictorial research tables/charts Journal Article ougenre: Article language: English refInfo: holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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