Abstract

Discussion

Methods

Functional Fitness Challenge in Volunteer Firefighters Improves Heart HealthJoseph A. Cruz, Allyson K. Getty, Tia R. Wisdo, & Deborah L. Feairheller, PhD

Health & Exercise Physiology Department, the HEART Laboratory, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA

The dangerous emergency scenes that firefighters respond to increase the riskof sudden cardiac death, and almost 60% of line-of-duty deaths are cardiac-related.

Very little research focuses on volunteer firefighters, yet currently around 1.2million firefighters in the U.S (70%) are volunteers.

This study involved a 4-week functional exercise intervention in two volunteerfire stations: Limerick Fire Company in Montgomery County and EastBrandywine Fire Company in Chester County.

We challenged the crews to have the highest adherence and most improvementin health and fitness. We assessed heart health by blood pressure,glucose/cholesterol levels, and body fat percent after an overnight fast. Wetested functional fitness with a stair climb, single leg balance, plank pose, stairsprint, wall sit, and 145-lb dummy drag.

Overall, participant adherence to exercise was 98%. Heart health improvedwith exercise: blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, body weight,and body-fat percent all decreased. Firefighter fitness also improved.

Considering the results were close, the tie breaker included completion andexercise adherence rates. Limerick Fire Company won the challenge with a94.4% completion rate and 98.1% exercise adherence. East Brandywine had an80% completion rate and 97.9% exercise adherence.

With current research, we continue to examine heart health in firefighters.

Hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and obesity are global healthproblems. They are also a large concern for firefighters, and the volunteerfirefighter population represents over 70% of all firefighters. Despite theshear abundance of volunteer firefighters, this population is understudied.

Considering that the leading cause of death in firefighters is cardiac-related,it is important to understand cardiovascular responses to different activities,and we found that there are benefits that can be achieved from completionof a limited-duration exercise intervention. We found improvements in bothhealth and fitness with only four weeks of exercise

Evidently, a continuous exercise program can improve functional fitness infirefighters which can help protect and save lives in the line of duty, as wellas defend against the development of life-threatening chronic diseases.

AcknowledgementsThis study was supported by a Faculty Development Grant from Ursinus College.

We would like to thank our study participants for their time and enthusiasm - thevolunteer firefighters from Limerick Fire Company in Montgomery County and from EastBrandywine Fire Company in Chester County.

We would also like to thank The Fire Store for donating the Halligan bar prize.

the HEART Laboratory(Hypertension & Endothelial function with Aerobic & Resistance Training)

Health & Exercise Physiology Department, Ursinus College, PA

•The study group consisted of local volunteer firefighters (N=29) who wereapparently healthy and free of cardiovascular risk factors according tocompleted health history questionnaire.

•Pre- and post-overnight fasted visits consisted of clinical blood pressuremeasures, plasma cholesterol and glucose testing, carotid artery intima mediathickness (IMT), brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), and pulsewave analysis (PWA).

•The participant height and weight were measured for calculation of bodymass index (BMI) and body composition measures were collected bybioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA).

• Several blood pressure measures were collected; including, clinic (seated),central (aortic) by PWA, and exercise blood pressures.

• Participants were administered a pre- and post-functional fitness assessmentwhich included a submaximal 4-minute walk test, 145 lb. dummy drag, stairclimb, stair sprint, wall sit, plank pose, and single leg balance.

• The exercise program consisted of a four week circuit training program thatwas to be performed three times, 3 times per week.

•For participant data inclusion, the participant must have had an 80%adherence to the exercise program.

•A motivational, “motto”, person was assigned to each of the FF to increaseadherence and motivation.

Results

Figure 1: Comparison of percent improvement in fitness test parameters between the entire group(blue bars), East Brandywine Fire Company (yellow bars) and Limerick Fire Company (green bars).

Limerick Fire Company officers receive the winning prize: a Halligan bar which was donated to the HEART lab by The Fire Store.

"I want to thank PhD Director Deb Feairheller and her HEART lab fitness team for their passion, professionalism, and direction with the recent fitness testing for our

Fire Department. With cardiovascular disease issues as the number one cause of death of firefighters,

we were shown how a level of health and fitness could help save lives. The four week training program worked separate muscle groups and increased

cardio strength - but most important it was fun!Thanks again to the HEART lab team”

~ Anonymous Firefighter

Functional Fitness Workout

NFPA's "Firefighter Fatalities in the United States - 2014"

“Participating in the Ursinus College sponsored firefighter Heart Study/Challenge along with East Brandywine Fire Company was both eye opening and educational for us at Limerick Fire Co… I was truly surprised with our member’s interest and commitment before,

during and after the study. It was a great feeling to pull into the station and see members exercising around the station with gear on, running the stairs with SCBA,

dragging a rescue dummy around our social hall, and more for this study. The study ended and our members were surprised and pleased with their improvement over just a few weeks and of course happy that they won the challenge.

But even more importantly our members are now exercising more, watching what they are eating and now in the process of planning an in-house fitness room at the station.

Dr. Feairheller’s commitment to firefighter health, awareness and prevention of sudden cardiac instances and more will benefit ours and generations to come.”

~ Ken Shuler, Chief Limerick Fire Co.

“Physical fitness is the greatest weakness on the fire ground in today’s fire service. This study, and other fitness initiatives are the start of changing that! Our goal should be to significantly reduce the number of cardiovascular deaths that occur each year related to poor

health and fitness.” ~ John Edwards, Chief East Brandywine Fire Co.

Fire Service EndorsementsContinue current level of exercise

Circuit training – 3x / 3x weekØ Unsteady Carry (40lb, 100 ft)Ø Stairway Climb (3 mins)Ø Plank Pose (45 sec)Ø Weighted Carry (20 lb, 100 ft, FAST)Ø R/L Single-Leg StandsØ Stairway Carry (15 lb, 30 steps)

Reported to us weekly:Ø # times completed workout Ø Any changes in health

Table 1. Physical Health Characteristics with Exercise Training Program

Variable Baseline Final Baseline FinalAge 35.53 - 39.75 -Gender (Male/Female) 14/3 - 9/3 -Height (in) 67.6 - 67.9 -Body Weight (lbs) 191.7 190.7 189.5 189BMI (kg/m2) 30.22 30.03 29.53 29.44% Body Fat 33.3 32.2 31.8 30.1*Systolic Blood Pressure (mmHg) 127.8 123.8* 123.5 116*Diastolic Blood Pressure (mmHg) 77.1 74.5* 76.3 72.5*Glucose (mg/dl) 88.29 89.59 88.5 90.0Total Cholesterol (mg/dl) 157.3 154.3 147.6 146.9Triglycerides (mg/dl) 116.1 98.3* 100.6 84.6HDL (mg/dl) 41.7 42.9 43.2 43.8LDL (mg/dl) 97.4 97.8 86.0 87.9Data are presented as mean. * p<0.05 between Baseline and Final

Limerick Fire Co East Brandywine Fire Co

Variable Baseline Final Baseline Final2-Min Stair Climb (# steps) 312.9 346.5* 303.7 352.5*Left Leg Balance (sec) 78.1 112.7 84.8 224.9*Right Leg Balance (sec) 62.1 130.3* 106.7 198.1*Plank Pose (sec) 110.5 147.2* 121.5 164.4*12-Step Sprint (sec) 2.57 2.65 3.10 2.78*Wall Sit (sec) 117.5 139.4 70.5 109.0*145 lb Rescue Dummy Drag (ft) 2242.7 2678.8* 2006.2 2369.5*Data are presented as mean. * p<0.05 between Baseline and Final

Limerick Fire Co East Brandywine Fire CoTable 2. Improvements in Fitness with Exercise Training Program

East Brandywine firefighters at a recent training night

East Brandywine firefighters extinguishing a car fire

Limerick firefighters and HEART lab team at the fitness testing

Limerick firefighters in operation at a recent house fire

Testimonial