Retrospective Longitudinal Evaluation of Male Firefighter's Body Composition and Cardiovascular Health

Effects of different levels of physical activity on arterial stiffness and physical fitness performance in firefighters

Background: Firefighters have lower levels of physical activity while on call. It is critical to understand the impact of firefighters' physical activity on arterial stiffness. This study classified groups by physical activity level and combined peripheral vascular monitor measurement to explore the relationships between the level of physical activity and cardiovascular (CV) risk and physical fitness (PF) of firefighters, as well as the acute response to arterial stiffness (AS) following maximal aerobic exercise test (MAET) intervention. Methods: The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to classify the participants into 3 groups: low, moderate, and high level of physical activity group, respectively. A total of 36 participants were recruited, 12 in each group. Participants were assessed for body composition, rest brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), handgrip strength (HGS), maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max), and MAET baPWV. Results: In the three groups, significant differences were observed in V̇O2max, HGS, relative fat mass (%FM), body mass index (BMI), muscle mass ratio (MMR), and Rest baPWV (p < 0.05). After maximal aerobic exercise, the MAET baPWV values decreased significantly in all groups (all p < 0.001). Rest baPWV was significantly correlated with firefighters' age, seniority, metabolic equivalents (METs), height and muscle mass (MM) (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Firefighters with high levels of physical activity had better body composition and physical fitness and lower Rest baPWV. In all three groups, baPWV was lower after the MAET than before it. Therefore, regardless of a firefighter's level of physical activity, high-intensity aerobic exercise may have a beneficial effect on arterial stiffness.

Strategies for Improving Firefighter Health On-Shift: A Review

The fire service suffers from high rates of cardiovascular disease and poor overall health, and firefighters often suffer fatal and non-fatal injuries while on the job. Most fatal injuries result from sudden cardiac death, while non-fatal injuries are to the musculoskeletal system. Previous works suggest a mechanistic link between several health and performance variables and injury risk. In addition, studies have suggested physical activity and nutrition can improve overall health and occupational performance. This review offers practical applications for exercise via feasible training modalities as well as nutritional recommendations that can positively impact performance on the job. Time-efficient training modalities like high-intensity interval training and feasible modalities such as resistance training offer numerous benefits for firefighters. Also, modifying and supplementing the diet and can be advantageous for health and body composition in the fire service. Firefighters have various schedules, making it difficult for planned exercise and eating while on shift. The practical training and nutritional aspects discussed in this review can be implemented on-shift to improve the overall health and performance in firefighters.

Climbing the Ranks: A Study of Firefighter Health Disparities

The fire service command structure encompasses recruit, incumbent firefighter, and officer positions. The purpose of this study was to quantify the effect of rank (recruits, incumbent firefighters, and officers) on health and physical ability characteristics within the fire service. Retrospective data from thirty-seven recruits (age = 29 ± 5 yrs, BMI = 26.5 ± 2.3 kg/m2); eighty-two incumbent firefighters (age = 30 ± 7 yrs, BMI = 28.8 ± 4.3 kg/m2); and forty-one officers (age = 41 ± 6 yrs, BMI = 28.6 ± 4.3 kg/m2) from a single department were used. Participants completed body composition tests (i.e., body fat percentage [%BF] and body mass index [BMI]), an air consumption test (ACT), and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. The ACT consisted of 10 standardized tasks. Five separate one-way analyses of co-variance (ANCOVA) were calculated, accounting for age. Partial eta squared statistics were calculated and Bonferroni-corrected post-hoc analyses were employed. The results demonstrated a significant effect of rank on %BF (F = 9.61, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.10); BMI (F = 3.45, p = 0.02, η2 = 0.05); relative VO2MAX (F = 12.52, p < 0.001; η2 = 0.11); and HRMAX (F = 18.89, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.03), but not on ACT time (F = 0.71, p = 0.55, η2 = 0.01). These outcomes suggest there are variations in anthropometric and physiological metrics of health across firefighter ranks. Administrators should be aware how these markers of health may vary across firefighter ranks.