Predicting Performance on a Firefghter's Ability Test From Fitness Parameters

Abstract

The purpose of this project was to identify the relationships between various fitness parameters such as upper body muscular endurance, upper and lower body strength, flexibility, body composition and performance on an ability test (AT) that included simulated firefighting tasks. A second intent was to create a regression model that would predict firefighter performance on the test. Thirty-eight experienced firefighters performed the AT and underwent assessments for the fitness parameters. Multiple regression analyses indicated that variation in the fitness parameters explained a significant, F(6, 36) = 6.31, p < .001, proportion (55%) of the variation observed in the AT. The results demonstrated that upper muscular strength and endurance as well as low body composition were significantly related (p < .01) to better performances on the simulated firefighting tasks. Variables such as low back and hamstring flexibility, upper and lower body strength, and body composition may contribute significantly to the model's predictive power.

The Relationship Between Physical Activity and Thermal Protective Clothing on Functional Balance in Firefighters

“…However, unlike the study by Michaelides et al (2011) in which higher body fat was associated with unsatisfactory performance on a firefighting abilities test, we find no relationship between balance and physical characteristics including age, height, mass, and BMI. Using similar testing procedures, Punakallio et al (2003) also failed to identify a difference in balance ability between younger (33–38 years) and older (age 43–56 years) firefighters, although a trend toward significance was reported in that study.…”

“…In older populations, lower extremity strength (Lord, Ward, Williams, & Anstey, 1994; Pijnappels, van der Burg, Reeves, & van Dieen, 2008), rate of force development (Pijnappels, Bobbert, & van Dieen, 2005), and fast response time (van den Bogert, Pavol, & Grabiner, 2002) have been identified as important factors in preventing falls. Muscular strength and endurance are also related to better performance in specific firefighting ability tests (Michaelides, Parpa, Thompson, & Brown, 2008). Because resistance training increases maximal force production, rate of force development, and neural drive of human skeletal muscles (Aagaard, Simonsen, Andersen, Magnusson, & Dyhre-Poulsen, 2002), one or more of these factors may explain why resistance-trained firefighters demonstrated superior balance performance.…”

“…Because resistance training increases maximal force production, rate of force development, and neural drive of human skeletal muscles (Aagaard, Simonsen, Andersen, Magnusson, & Dyhre-Poulsen, 2002), one or more of these factors may explain why resistance-trained firefighters demonstrated superior balance performance. More recently, a study of 90 firefighters demonstrated that fitness variables, such as abdominal strength, power (measured with a step test), push-ups, resting heart rate, and body fat contributed significantly to the predictive power of performance on an abilities test when wearing TPC/SCBA (Michaelides et al, 2011). In contrast, a study by Punakallio, Hirvonen, and Gronqvist (2005) showed that muscular capacity was not associated with the risk of slip-related falls among male firefighters (Punakallio et al, 2005).…”

“…It is also likely that other intrinsic and extrinsic factors related to the firefighter’s health and fitness influence TPC performance. A recent study of simulated firefighting activities identified aspects of muscular strength, endurance, power, and abdominal strength related to performance but did not measure balance (Michaelides, Parpa, Henry, Thompson, & Brown, 2011). While the effects of physical training and performance on balance have been studied in athletes, it is unknown whether physical training mitigates the effects of TPC/SCBA on firefighters’ balance (Cressey, West, Tiberio, Kraemer, & Maresh, 2007; Filipa, Byrnes, Paterno, Myer, & Hewett, 2010).…”

Field Tests for Evaluating the Aerobic Work Capacity of Firefighters

“…VO 2max measured in L·min −1 was correlated to both time and mean generated power in the 500 m rowing test (r s  = −0.84 and r s =  0.84, respectively). These three variables could be used for estimation of a firefighter’s work performance with the understanding that other qualities, such as muscle strength, muscle endurance, and anaerobic capacity [3], [21], [22], [23], [24], [38], [42], [43], can also affect the work performance.…”