Evaluating the effect of a strength and conditioning program to improve paramedic candidates' physical readiness for duty

Determining whether biomechanical variables that describe common 'safe lifting' cues are associated with low back loads

Lift technique training programs have been implemented to help reduce injury risk, but the underlying content validity of cues used within these programs is not clear. The objective of this study was to determine whether biomechanical variables, that commonly used lifting cues aim to elicit, are associated with resultant low back extensor moment exposures. A sample of 72 participants were recruited to perform 10 repetitions of a floor-to-waist height barbell lift while whole-body kinematics and ground reaction forces were collected. Kinematic, kinetic, and energetic variables representative of characteristics commonly targeted by lifting cues were calculated as predictor variables, while peak and cumulative low back moments were calculated as dependent measures. Multiple regression revealed that 56.6-59.2% of variance in low back moments was explained by predictor variables. From these regression models, generating motion with the legs (both greater hip and knee work), minimizing the horizontal distance of the body to the load, maintaining a stable body position, and minimizing lift time were associated with lower magnitudes of low back moments. These data support that using cues targeting these identified variables may be more effective at reducing peak low back moment exposures via lift training.

Factors influencing the likelihood of females passing the Ottawa paramedic physical ability test

The Ottawa Paramedic Physical Ability Test (OPPAT) was launched in Ontario as a physical employment standard for front-line paramedics. When considering pass rates based on sex, males had a higher likelihood of passing than females. To help understand how to improve pass rates among females we aimed to understand if factors such as participant demographics, college type, employment status and/or peak heart rate (a surrogate of fitness level) were related to OPPAT pass rates. Females who were employed, who were educated in a public paramedic college, and who had higher body mass were more likely to successfully complete the OPPAT. Those educated in a public paramedic college were more than twice as likely to pass relative to those educated in a private college program. This may underscore a need to further explore different modes of paramedic education to understand why public college program trained students are more likely to pass.

Functional movement screen did not predict musculoskeletal injury among emergency medical services professionals

BACKGROUND: Emergency Medical Services (EMS) professionals frequently experience job-related injuries, most commonly overexertion or movement injuries. Data on injury reduction in EMS professionals is limited. The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is a movement analysis tool suggested to predict musculoskeletal injury, but it has not previously been evaluated for EMS professionals. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of the FMS to predict musculoskeletal injury among EMS professionals. METHODS: In October 2014, EMS professionals employed in an urban third-service EMS agency volunteered to participate in FMS administered by certified screeners. Age, sex, height and weight were recorded. After screening, participants were instructed on exercises to correct movement deficiencies. We reviewed recorded injuries from 2013 to 2016. We performed descriptive statistics. With logistic regression modeling, we described factors that predicted musculoskeletal injury. We generated a receiver operating curve (ROC) for FMS prediction of musculoskeletal injury. RESULTS: 147 of 240 full-time employees participated in the FMS. Participants’ mean age was 33.7 years (SD = 9.6) and the majority (65%) were male. The median initial FMS score was 14 (IQR 11–16). Area under the ROC curve was 0.603 (p = 0.213) for FMS ability to predict any musculoskeletal injury within two years. Female sex was associated higher odds of injury (OR 3.98, 95% CI 1.61–9.80). Increasing age, body mass index (BMI) category, and FMS score≤14 did not predict musculoskeletal injury. CONCLUSION: The FMS did not predict musculoskeletal injury among EMS professionals.