TY - JOUR PY - 1996// TI - A physiological profile of elite surf ironmen, full time lifeguards & patrolling surf life savers JO - Australian journal of science and medicine in sport A1 - Gulbin, J. P. A1 - Fell, James W. A1 - Gaffney, P. T. SP - 86 EP - 90 VL - 28 IS - 3 N2 - The physiological profiles and proficiency of 32 volunteer surf life savers (LS), 15 professional lifeguards (LG), and 8 elite surf ironmen (IM) aged from 18 to 44 were compared. Measurements included anthropometry, muscular power, muscular strength-endurance, flexibility, VO2max, maximum heart rate, peak blood lactate response and proficiency in 3 rescue simulations. Both LG and IM were significantly faster than LS in all rescue simulations. IM had significantly greater VO2max (68.6 ml.kg-1.min-1) than LS (56.3) and LG (57.9). IM had significantly lower heart rates than LS after maximal swimming and running, and significantly lower blood lactate 3 minutes post swim (8.4 mmol/L) in comparison with LS (14.0) and LG (12.2). LG obtained better results than LS in 2 of the 3 muscular strength-endurance tasks. It is concluded that: LG and IM are significantly faster in aquatic rescue simulations than LS; IM have greater aerobic capacities than both other groups; the majority of Australian LS have adequate fitness and aquatic skills for surf rescue, although a small subset of LS do not. This group of poorly performing LS are not identified by current surf rescue screening procedures.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0813-6289 UR - http://dx.doi.org/ ID - ref1 ER -