Customized Occupational-Specific Graded Exercise Test for Structural Firefighters: An Update. Issue 1 (21st January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dicks, Nathan D.; Brin, Halle N.; Perumal, Mohan D.; Hutcheson, Evan L.; Kopp, Samantha R.; Walch, Tanis J.; Carper, Michael J.; Barry, Allison M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine. Volume 65:Issue 1(2023)
• Page Start: 29
• Page End: 33
• Publication Date: 2023-01-21
• Subjects: firefighters -- cardiovascular fitness -- graded exercise test -- fitness testing; Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Occupational Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental health; Medicine, Industrial; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9803
• DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002650
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1076-2752

Abstract

Abstract : Using this customized occupational-specific VO2max GXT simulates both on-the-job ambulatory movement and, with the addition of bunker gear, the physiological demands associated with the occupational tasks of structural firefighters. Abstract : Objective: The aim of the study is to validate a customized V˙O2max Graded Exercise Test (GXT) protocol specifically to accommodate firefighters with different cardiovascular fitness levels. Methods: Career male firefighters (N = 15) completed 3 customized GXTs on a treadmill: 1 in athletic clothes and 2 in their bunker gear to determine maximal oxygen uptake (V˙O2max ). Results: The on-duty task protocol was reliable, V˙O2max values of 40.2 ± 4.6 mL·kg·min −1 and 40.3 ± 5.3 mL·kg·min −1 between trials yielded an interclass correlation of 0.911 with a typical error of 1.48 mL·kg·min −1 and a coefficient of variation of 4.0%. The validity analysis indicated consistent maximal V˙O2 values for the GXTs yielding mean interclass correlation of 0.94 with typical error of 1.16 mL·kg·min −1 and a coefficient of variation of 2.9%. Conclusions: The customized GXT for structural firefighters has shown to be a reliable, valid, and applicable method of testing cardiovascular fitness in firefighters.