The relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and firefighter occupational performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis examining absolute versus relative VO_2max.

IF 2 3区工程技术 Q3 ENGINEERING, INDUSTRIAL

Ergonomics Pub Date : 2025-03-17 DOI:10.1080/00140139.2025.2471542

Joel R Martin, Nicholas C Clark, Kayleigh Newman, Marcie Fyock-Martin, Mark G Abel

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Unequivocally greater cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is beneficial for performing firefighting occupational tasks (OTs); however, the contribution of absolute vs. relative VO_2max with OT performance warrants further study. This systematic review and meta-analysis compared the relationship between relative and absolute VO_2max with the performance of firefighting OTs. Studies included career, volunteer, and firefighter recruits and examined the association of CRF measures with OT performance. Thirty-two studies were identified with 19 studies incorporating an occupational circuit of simulated firefighting OTs such as stair climbing, carrying equipment, victim rescue, forcible entry, and search tasks. The relative and absolute VO_2max pooled correlations were r̅ =-0.64 (95%CI: [-0.69,-0.58]) and r̅ = -0.75 (95%CI: [-0.88, -0.62]), respectively. The findings support the importance of CRF, particularly absolute VO_2max, for effective performance of firefighting OTs. Absolute VO_2max likely has a stronger relationship with firefighters' functional work rate during operations, reflecting the absolute demands of firefighting tasks.

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来源期刊

Ergonomics 工程技术-工程：工业

CiteScore

4.60

自引率

12.50%

发文量

147

审稿时长

6 months

期刊介绍： Ergonomics, also known as human factors, is the scientific discipline that seeks to understand and improve human interactions with products, equipment, environments and systems. Drawing upon human biology, psychology, engineering and design, Ergonomics aims to develop and apply knowledge and techniques to optimise system performance, whilst protecting the health, safety and well-being of individuals involved. The attention of ergonomics extends across work, leisure and other aspects of our daily lives. The journal Ergonomics is an international refereed publication, with a 60 year tradition of disseminating high quality research. Original submissions, both theoretical and applied, are invited from across the subject, including physical, cognitive, organisational and environmental ergonomics. Papers reporting the findings of research from cognate disciplines are also welcome, where these contribute to understanding equipment, tasks, jobs, systems and environments and the corresponding needs, abilities and limitations of people. All published research articles in this journal have undergone rigorous peer review, based on initial editor screening and anonymous refereeing by independent expert referees.