Development of a walking aerobic capacity test for structural firefighters

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Physiology
• Occupational Health
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Firefighting demands high physical fitness to mitigate job-related cardiac mortality.
• The International Association of Firefighters recommends a VO2max of at least 42 ml·kg-1·min-1 for firefighters.
• Current screening methods are often costly and inaccessible for all firefighters.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a submaximal walking test for predicting VO2max in firefighters.
• To establish a feasible and cost-effective method for assessing firefighter aerobic capacity.

Main Methods:

• Thirty-eight male firefighters completed a graded treadmill walking test wearing a weighted vest (20% body weight).
• Walking speed was individualized (3.6–4.3 mph), with treadmill grade increasing 1% each minute until exhaustion.
• A subset of 13 firefighters underwent a running VO2max test for cross-validation.

Main Results:

• The developed walking test predicted 76% of the variance in VO2max (p < 0.001), with the equation: VO2max = 11.373 + time (min) × 2.184.
• Average test duration was 16.95 ± 2.57 minutes, with an average predicted VO2max of 48.4 ± 6.5 ml·kg-1·min-1.
• Walking VO2max values were slightly lower than running values (mean difference: 4.62 ± 5.86 ml·kg-1·min-1).

Conclusions:

• The treadmill walking test is a potentially valid and reliable tool for predicting VO2max in structural firefighters.
• Its minimal equipment requirements make it a practical option for routine fitness assessments in fire departments.
• This accessible test can aid in meeting fitness recommendations and improving firefighter safety.