What do Firefighting Ability Tests Tell Us About Firefighter Physical Fitness?2103: A Systematic Review of the Current Evidence

Marcie B. Fyock-Martin; Eric K. Erickson; Allan H. Hautz; Katie M. Sell; Bradley L. Turnbaugh; Shane V. Caswell; Joel R. Martin

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What do Firefighting Ability Tests Tell Us About Firefighter Physical Fitness?2103: A Systematic Review of the Current Evidence

Marcie B. Fyock-Martin ^[1] ; Eric K. Erickson ^[1] ; Allan H. Hautz ^[1] ; Katie M. Sell ; Bradley L. Turnbaugh ^[1] ; Shane V. Caswell ; Joel R. Martin
1. [1] George Mason University
  
  George Mason University
  
  Estados Unidos
Localización: Journal of strength and conditioning research: the research journal of the NSCA, ISSN 1064-8011, Vol. 34, Nº. 7, 2020, págs. 2093-2103
Idioma: inglés
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Resumen
- The firefighting profession is a physiologically demanding occupation. Currently, sudden cardiac deaths account for 40-50% of firefighter job-related deaths, for which, inadequate aerobic fitness (AF) and obesity are established as risk factors. Departments have instituted firefighting physical ability tests (FPATs) as a method of quantifying readiness for occupational-related demands. A systematic review of the current literature examining the correlation between field fitness test performance and FPAT completion times was performed. The search identified 5 studies that met the eligibility criteria. The total number of subjects in the 5 studies was 265 (259 men and 6 women), including 200 professional firefighters (75.5%), 40 volunteer (15.1%), 20 officers (7.5%), and 5 recruits (1.9%). Upper-body strength (UBs) and upper-body endurance (UBe) had the strongest correlation to FPATs (r = -0.31 to -0.66; R2 = 0.10 to 0.44 and r = -0.27 to -0.61; R2 = 0.07 to 0.37; p < 0.05, respectively). Two studies suggested that AF has a weak-to-moderate relationship with FPATs (r = 0.38 and r = -0.62). Two studies showed that anaerobic capacity had weak-to-strong correlations with FPATs (r = -0.40 and r = 0.79; R2 = 0.16 to 0.62; p < 0.05). No studies found a statistically significant correlation between lower-body strength and FPAT performance. Further research is needed to better understand the role of field-based fitness test results on FPAT performance. An annual department-driven multicomponent fitness assessment measuring UBs, UBe, anaerobic capacity, and AF is recommended based on the evidence reviewed.