科研之友
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摘要
Firefighting requires high fitness to perform job tasks and minimize risk of job-related cardiac death. To reduce this risk, the International Association of Firefighters has recommended firefighters possess a (v) over dotO(2)max %26gt;= 42 ml.kg.(-1).min(-1). This recommendation is not universally applied because existing screening tests require costly equipment and do not accommodate firefighters unable to run. The purpose of this study was to develop a walking test to predict (v) over dotO(2)max in firefighters using a standard treadmill. Thirty-eight male firefighters wore a vest weighing 20% of their body weight and performed a walking (v) over dotO(2)max test on a standard treadmill. Walking speed was dependent on leg length and ranged from 3.6 to 4.3 mph. The test began with a 3-minute warm-up, after which the speed was increased to test speed. Every minute thereafter, the grade increased 1% until participants reached exhaustion. For crossvalidation, 13 firefighters also performed a running (v) over dotO(2)max test. The average test time was 16.95 +/- 2.57 minutes (including warm-up) and ranged between 8 and 22 minutes. Average (v) over dotO(2)max was 48.4 +/- 6.5 ml.kg.(-1).min(-1). Stepwise linear regression included time as the only significant independent variable explaining 76% of the variance in (v) over dotO(2)max (p %26lt; 0.001). The standard error of the estimate was 3.2 ml.kg.(-1).min(-1). The equation derived is: (v) over dotO(2)max (ml.kg.(-1).min(-1)) = 11.373 + time (minute) X 2.184. On average, (v) over dotO(2)max values measured while walking were 4.62 +/- 5.86 ml.kg.(-1).min(-1), lower than running values. This test has good potential for predicting (v) over dotO(2)max among structural firefighters, and minimal equipment needs make it feasible for fire departments to administer.
- 出版日期2014-8
