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TWO YEARS OF HEALTH AND FITNESS ASSESSMENTS FOR S.W. MONTANA FIREFIGHTERS

Abstract

G.H. Moeller,L.M. Young

University of Montana Western Dillon, MT

Health and fitness are vital components to firefighter work performance and safety. PURPOSE: To compare the health and fitness assessments of Southwest Montana firefighters from 2017 to 2018. METHODS: Structural volunteer firefighters (N=16, 36.8 ± 1.7 yrs., 35.8 ± 9.3 kg/m2BMI) were assessed for: systolic blood pressure (SBS) 133.7 ± 9.9 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure (DBS) 80.1 ± 6.2 mmHg; predicted VO2max (33.6 ± 10.6 ml/kg/min-1) via a YMCA test using a cycle ergometer, maximal upper body strength via a push-up test (19.9 ± 8.7), core/abdominal strength via a sit up test (31 ± 14.6), shoulder flexibility (R: -0.33 ± 5.8, L: -0.9 ± 6.2 cm), trunk rotation (32.4 ± 7.4 cm), hamstring flexibility via a sit-and-reach test (24.7 ± 9.5 cm), and body fat percentage(BF) using a handheld bioelectrical impedance device (18.8 ± 11.9%). In 2018, fifteen firefighters (37.0± 8.6 yrs., 28.2 ± 5.1 kg/m2BMI), returned for re-evaluation of SBS: 127.5 ± 12.4 mmHg, DBS: 81.9 ± 5.7 mmHg, predicted VO2max: 38.1 ± 10.9 ml/kg/min-1, maximal upper body strength: 23.1 ± 8.7, core/abdominal strength: 39.6 ± 20.8, shoulder flexibility: (R: -1.9 ± 5.7, L: -2.8 ± 5.5 cm), trunk rotation (76.1 ± 15.8 cm), hamstring flexibility: 22.2 ± 7.6 cm, and BF: 24.1 ± 6.8%. All testing procedures followed ACSM guidelines for exercise testing prescription. A Mann Whitney test was used to compare assessment outcomes between 2017 and 2018. In addition, a correlation matrix was calculated with r ≥ 0.7 = strong positive relationship and r ≤ -0.7 = strong negative relationship. RESULTS: There were no differences in any health or fitness outcomes except for a decrease SBS (p=0.07) from 2017 vs. 2018. The 2017 correlation matrix revealed positive relationships between BMI and BF (r=0.90) and negative relationships between pushups and BMI (r=-0.7). The 2018 results show a positive correlation between SBS and DBP (r=0.75), along with SBS and BMI (r=0.72). BF and BMI were positively correlated (r=0.71), along with right and left shoulder flexibility (r=0.88). CONCLUSION: Over the course of one year, firefighters had similar health and fitness results. A reduction in SBS was the only measure that improved from 2017 to 2018.

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