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Sharp P, Caperchione CM, Brown GA, Stadnyk A, Marin E, Hulin B, Wade J, Mott B, Gabriel M, Impellizzeri F, Fullagar HHK. A pragmatic strength and conditioning intervention for firefighters: Feasibility of the Tactical Athlete Resilience Program (TARP). Health Promot J Austr 2023; 34:60-69. [PMID: 36054639 PMCID: PMC10091986 DOI: 10.1002/hpja.656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
ISSUE ADDRESSED Firefighting is physically and mentally taxing and recruits are expected to have optimal health and fitness. However, physical fitness tends to decline following initial training, placing firefighters at an increased risk for stress and injury. Efforts are needed to engage and support firefighters in maintaining adequate health and fitness to withstand the rigorous demands of their occupation. This study examined the feasibility of TARP, a pragmatic strength and conditioning intervention for metropolitan-based firefighters, delivered in collaboration with a professional National Rugby League club. METHODS A mixed-methods approach was utilised to examine program implementation, recruitment and sample characteristics, intervention satisfaction and acceptability, and participants' response to the intervention. Evaluation measures included field notes taken during steering committee meetings, participant flow data, baseline and follow-up outcome measures, self-report questionnaires, and telephone interviews with a sample of participants. RESULTS Participants (N = 113) were predominantly men (82%) with a mean age of 43 ± 9.3 years and BMI of 26.6 ± 2.9 kg/m2 . Program satisfaction was high (95% very satisfied or somewhat satisfied) among program completers (42% retention). Key strengths of the program included delivery through the professional sports club, quality of facilities and equipment, and scheduling flexibility. Future programs should consider incorporating education or training to support behaviour change maintenance and strategies to retain participants at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Results provide valuable insights into the design and delivery of interventions for firefighters and demonstrate the importance of strong partnerships between community stakeholders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Sharp
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Cristina M Caperchione
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Georgia A Brown
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Antony Stadnyk
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Marin
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Billy Hulin
- South Sydney Rabbitohs Rugby League Football Club, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jarrod Wade
- South Sydney Rabbitohs Rugby League Football Club, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Brendan Mott
- Fire and Rescue NSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mark Gabriel
- Fire and Rescue NSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Franco Impellizzeri
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Hugh H K Fullagar
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Gelius PC, Jansen M, King AC. Cooperative planning and its utilization in German physical activity promotion: a brief introduction. Health Promot Int 2021; 36:ii1-ii7. [PMID: 34905606 PMCID: PMC8670624 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daab170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Peter C Gelius
- Department of Sport Science and Sport, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Maria Jansen
- Department of Health Services Research, Universiteit Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Abby C King
- Department of Medicine, Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Health Research and Policy, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
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