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Body Composition Is Related to Maximal Effort Treadmill Test Time in Firefighters
Benjamin J Mendelson1, Rudi A Marciniak1, Carly A Wahl2
1Human Performance & Sport Physiology Laboratory, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences & Technology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 10, 2023
Summary
Firefighter fitness tests may miss crucial performance data. Submaximal tests predict aerobic capacity but may not capture physiological work above 85% maximal heart rate.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Occupational Health
- Exercise Science
Background:
- Firefighting demands high cardiorespiratory fitness.
- Body fat percentage (BF%) and aerobic capacity (VO2peak) influence firefighting performance.
- Submaximal tests, often used for firefighters, stop at 85% maximal heart rate (MHR), potentially missing maximal effort data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between body composition and time spent running above 85% MHR in firefighters.
- To determine if submaximal tests adequately assess maximal cardiorespiratory effort relevant to firefighting.
Main Methods:
- Collected data on height, weight, BMI, BF%, MHR, VO2peak, predicted VO2peak (P-VO2peak), submaximal treadmill test time (WFIsub Test Time), and maximal treadmill test time (WFImax Test Time) from 15 firefighters.
- Analyzed relationships between body composition and maximal/submaximal test performance.
Main Results:
- Significant correlations found between BF% and VO2peak, BF% and WFImax Test Time, BF% and time difference (Tdiff), and VO2peak and WFImax Test Time (p < 0.05).
- Predicted VO2peak did not significantly differ from actual VO2peak.
- Maximal treadmill test time (WFImax Test Time) was significantly longer than submaximal test time (WFIsub Test Time).
Conclusions:
- Submaximal treadmill tests can reasonably predict VO2peak in firefighters.
- However, these tests may overlook critical physiological responses occurring at intensities above 85% MHR.
- Assessing maximal cardiorespiratory effort is essential for fully understanding firefighter performance capabilities.
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