Association between physical fitness and musculoskeletal health in firefighters

Jaron Ras; Elpidoforos S Soteriades; Denise L Smith; Andre P Kengne; Lloyd Leach

doi:10.3389/fphys.2023.1210107

Association between physical fitness and musculoskeletal health in firefighters

Front Physiol. 2023 Jul 4:14:1210107. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1210107. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Jaron Ras¹, Elpidoforos S Soteriades^{2

3}, Denise L Smith⁴, Andre P Kengne⁵, Lloyd Leach¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa.
² Healthcare Management Program, School of Economics and Management, Open University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.
³ Environmental and Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology (EOME), Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States.
⁴ Health and Human Physiological Sciences, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY, United States.
⁵ Non-Communicable Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa.

Abstract

Introduction: Firefighters are often placed in situations that require high levels of physical exertion, leading to significant strain on firefighters' musculoskeletal system, predisposing them to musculoskeletal discomfort (MSD) and/or musculoskeletal injury (MSI). Physical fitness programs are often recommended and justified, in part, to prevent injuries. The aim of this study was to determine the association between physical fitness and musculoskeletal health (MSH) in firefighters. Methods: A total of 308 full-time firefighters took part in the study conducted in Cape Town, South Africa. Physical fitness tests encompassed a non-exercise estimation for cardiorespiratory fitness, grip and leg strength for upper and lower body strength, push-ups and sit-ups for muscular endurance, and sit-and-reach for flexibility. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire were used to determine MSIs and MSD, respectively. A p-value <0.05 indicated statistical significance. Results: Every one-unit increase in AbVO2max, push-ups, sit-ups, and sit-and-reach decreased the odds of firefighters reporting MSIs by 5% (p = 0.005), 3% (p = 0.017), 3% (p = 0.006), and 3% (p = 0.034), respectively. Every one repetition increase in push-up capacity increased the odds of firefighters reporting neck, elbow and forearm, wrist and hand, and thigh discomfort by 3% (p = 0.039), 4% (p = 0.031), 5% (p = 0.002), and 5%` (p = 0.007), respectively. Every one repetition increase in sit-up capacity increased the odds of firefighters reporting upper back discomfort and thigh discomfort by 5% (p = 0.045) and 7% (p = 0.013), respectively. Conclusion: Maintenance of physical fitness is likely beneficial in reducing MSIs, which, however, may increase the feeling of MSD in firefighters. In addition, it may be noticed that there is an ideal level of physical fitness that is conducive to the reduction of MSIs and should be studied further.

Keywords: cardiorespiratory; discomfort; endurance; firefighting; injury; physical activity; strength; workload.

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF) (grant number 141282) and The Ryoichi Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship Fund (SLYFF). Neither funding bodies was involved in the study design, data collection, or interpretation of the data.