An Occupational-Specific O2max Protocol for Structural Firefighters.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to validate a (Equation is included in full-text article.)O2max protocol designed specifically for the occupational demands of firefighters by incorporating the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Career firefighters completed a stage-graded exercise test (GXT) with submaximal square-wave verification bout while wearing PPE (pants and boots) to determine (Equation is included in full-text article.)O2max. Using the self-reported Physical Activity-Rating (PA-R) scale and an estimated nonexercise regression equation of (Equation is included in full-text article.)O2max for comparison to measured. Twenty-eight male, career firefighters performed the GXT and square-wave bout. (Equation is included in full-text article.)O2 values (mean ± SD) from the GXT and the square-wave verification bout were 41.04 ± 6.98 and 39.74 ± 6.42 mL/kg/min, respectively (ICC = 0.98, typical error = 0.96 mL/kg/min, CV = 2.4%). Our data suggest an incremental treadmill protocol that incorporates PPE and square-wave verification as an occupational-specific tool to measure cardiovascular fitness in firefighters.