Maximum oxygen consumption (vo2max) in firefighters: systematic review of studies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15359/mhs.10-1.3Keywords:
Firefighters, oxygen consumption, training, physical capacity, exercise, aerobic capacityAbstract
Maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) in firefighters: systematic review of studies. The firefighter’s job is catalogued as a high-risk profession, with high physical requirements; over the last years the firefighter has acquired more competencies other than extinguishing fires; among them interventions in traffic accidents, incidents with hazardous materials, rescues, and forest fires, among others. The traditional image of the fire fighter has given way to new professionals, prepared to face all types of disasters; therefore it is currently referred to as the complete firefighter. The objective of this study was reviewing systematically scientific evidence on the values of maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) presented by firefighters. A total of 19 studies were included, published between the years 2002 and 2012, from the databases: EBSCOhost, SpringerLink, SPORTDiscus, Medline, Embase and Scielo; also from journals like: Journal of Sports Science & Medicine, Occupational Medicine and Psicothema. It is conclude by this review, that based on results from the studies, that in the different populations of firefighters, VO2max ranges from 39,20 to 58,21 ml/kg/min.; it varies according to the initial condition the firefighters have on the different studies proposed by the authors; in general it is determined that a firefighter should have VO2max values over 43 ml/kg/min,, which is the minimum recommended, so at least to have a good aerobic capacity, enabling him/her to perform their basic functions as firefighter.
References
Ares, A. (2008). Bomberos: cómo enfocar la seguridad y salud en una profesión de especial riesgo. Gestión Práctica de Riesgos Laborales, 50, 24.
Berninger, A.,,Webber, M., Weakley, J., Gustave, J., Zeig-Owens, R., Lee, R., Al-Othman, F., Cohen, H., Kelly, K., & Prezant, D. (2010). Quality of life in relation to upper and lower respiratory conditions among retired 9/11-exposed firefighters with pulmonary disability. Quality of Life Research, 19, 1467–1476. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-010-9710-9
Donovan, R., Nelson, T., Peel, J., Lipsey, T., Voyles, W., & Gay Israel, R. (2009). Cardiorespiratory fitness and the metabolic syndrome in firefighters. Occupational Medicine, 59, 487–492. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqp095
Drew-Nord, D., Myers, J., Nord, S., Oka, R., Hong, O., & Froelicher, E. (2011). Accuracy of peak VO2 assessments in career firefighters. Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, (6), 25. https://doi.org/10.1186/1745-6673-6-25
Dreger, R., & Petersen, S. (2007). Oxygen cost of the CF–DND fire fit test in males and females. Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism, (32), 454–462. https://doi.org/10.1139/h07-020
Espinosa, V., Roca, E., Drobnic, F., Prat, R., Mirallas, J. y Barbany, J. (2007). Suplementación con glicerina para prevenir la deshidratación en tareas simuladas de bomberos. Archivos de Medicina del Deporte. Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Barcelona, España.
Gaskill, S., Ruby, B., Heil, D., Sharkey, B., Slivka, D., & Lankford, E. (2003). Seasonal changes in wildland firefighters aerobic fitness. Medicine Science in Sports Exercise, 35(5), 131. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005768-200305001-00723
Henderson, N., Berry, M., & Matic, T. (2007). Field measures of strength and fitness predict firefighter performance on physically demanding tasks. Personnel psychology, (60), 431–473. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.2007.00079.x
Kianmehr, P., & Nazem, F. (2011). Evaluation of validity and capability of professional function test of Iranian firemen. (English). Journal Of Military Medicine, 13(3), 147-153.
Lara, A., García, J., Torres-Luque, G. y Zagalaz, M. (2012). Análisis de la condición física en bomberos en función de la edad. Apunts Medicina de I`Esport, 2(1) 30-37.
Lawson, L., Crown, E., Ackerman, M., y Dale, J. (2004). Moisture effects in heat transfer through clothing systems for wildland firefighters. International Journal of Occupational safety and Ergonomics, 10, 227-238. https://doi.org/10.1080/10803548.2004.11076610
López, J. y Fernández, A. (2006). Fisiología del ejercicio. (3 ed). Panamericana, España.
Mbanu, G.; Wellenius, M.; Mittleman, L.; Stallings, L. y Kales, S. (2007). Seasonality and coronary heart disease deaths in United States firefighters. Chronobiology International, 24(4), 715–726.
Mendenhall, D., Moffatt, S., Williams, T., Reeves, M., Greeson, J., Shelton, C., Stahl, H., Zollinger, T., Saywell, R., & Muegge, C. (2005). Validation of a physical work performance evaluation for incumbent firefighters. Fire Engineering, United States.
Mier, C., & Gibson, A. (2004). Evaluation of a treadmill test for predicting the aerobic capacity of firefighters. Occupational Medicine, 54, 373–378. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqh008
Rivera, M. y Rivera, H. (2009). Estudio del Consumo máximo de oxígeno, sedentarismo y carga de trabajo físico en tres Compañías de Bomberos del Distrito Metropolitano de la ciudad de Quito, Ecuador. Proceedings of the Seventh international Conference on Occupational Risk Prevention.
Rodríguez, J., Villa, J., López, J., Moreno, S., Pernía, R., Ávila, M., García, J. y Mendonça, P. (2007). Análisis de la intensidad de esfuerzo alcanzada por el personal especialista en extinción de incendios forestales (PEEIF). Universidad de León, España.
Rodríguez, J., López, J., Pernia, R., Carballo, B., García, J., Foster, C. y Villa, J. (2012). Physiological work demands of Spanish wildland firefighters during wildfire suppression. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 85, 221–228. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-011-0661-4
Rojas, J. (2009). Informe final del proceso de preparación física de los bomberos en inducción en Cartago. Instituto Nacional de Seguros de Costa Rica. Manuscrito no publicado.
Saborit, J., Valle, M., Montoliú, M., Martínez, P., Nistal, P. y González, V. (2010). Relación entre la percepción de la capacidad aeróbica y el VO2máx en bomberos. Psicothema, 131-136.
Satué, J.; Villa, J.; Rodríguez, J.; García, J; Moreno, S; Ávila, C y Pernía, R. (2007). Estudio de los factores condicionantes del rendimiento físico del Personal Especialista en la Extinción de Incendios Forestales: pruebas de aptitud física de selección de personal. Wilfire, Sevilla, España.
Smith, D. (2011). Firefighter Fitness: Improving Performance and Preventing Injuries and Fatalities. Current Sports Medicine Reports, 10(3), 167-172. https://doi.org/10.1249/JSR.0b013e31821a9fec
Villa, J., López, J., Ávila, M., Rodríguez, J., Pernía, R., García, J., Moreno, S., Marqués, R. y Mendonça, P. (2009). Monitorización de la frecuencia cardiaca en las labores de extinción de incendios forestales, para la prevención de riesgos laborales. Prevención: Revista Técnica de Seguridad y Salud Laborales, 181, 6-26.
Wilmore, J. y Costill, D. (2007). Fisiología del esfuerzo y del deporte. España: PAIDOTRIBO.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
General conditions
MHSalud: Journal in Human Movement Sciences and Health by the Universidad Nacional is cover under a Creative Commons Atribución-NoComercial-SinDerivadas 3.0 Costa Rica license.
The journal is hosted in open access repositories such as the Institutional Repository of the Universidad Nacional, the Kimuk Repository of Costa Rica and La Referencia.
The editorial source of the journal must be recognized. Use the doi identifier for this purpose.
Self-archiving policy: The journal allows the self-archiving of the articles in their peer-reviewed version, edited and approved by the Editorial Board of the Journal to be available in Open Access through the Internet. More information in the following link: https://v2.sherpa.ac.uk/id/publication/25815
