Citation

Kong PW, Suyama J, Cham R, Hostler D. Res. Q. Exerc. Sport 2012; 83(4): 546-552.

Affiliation

Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

23367817

Abstract

We investigated the relationship between baseline physical training and the use of firefighting thermal protective clothing (TPC) with breathing apparatus on functional balance. Twenty-three male firefighters performed a functional balance test under four gear/clothing conditions. Participants were divided into groups by physical training status, and task performance was analyzed. There was an effect of equipment and training status on performance with the group reporting both aerobic and resistance training performing better than the group reporting no physical training. In conclusion, firefighters walk more slowly as a strategy to maintain balance when wearing TPC, which may be suboptimal given the emergent nature of fire suppression. This result was most prominent in the group reporting no physical training.

Language: en