Student: Sara Joy, Allison Peters and Lynne Principio
Mentor: Professor Wendy Bjerke
Major: Exercise Science
Studies reveal that the top cause of on duty death in fire fighters is a myocardial infarction experienced after the fire fighter has maximally exerted him/herself during an emergency. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease are also well documented and include sedentary lifestyle, hypertension, high cholesterol, family history, smoking, C - reactive protein and others. The purpose of this ongoing program and study is to reduce the number of risk factors in a population of fire fighters using the faculty and student resources at Sacred Heart University.
Eighty-nine males and one female with a mean age of 38 have been included in the study and program. Baseline and re-assessment data include aerobic capacity, upper body strength, trunk flexibility, lower extremity power, body composition, perceived stress, and risk factor status. The intervention includes aerobic and resistance exercise training including task specific exercises, education sessions, and stress management sessions. The duration of the intervention is 24 months.
Aggregate data to date include an 8% increase in aerobic capacity (38.85 x min to 42 ml/kg x min). Body fat % has increased 5% (23 to 24%). Sit and reach scores have decreased 14% (30-26 cm), hand grip dynamometry scores increased 4% (114 to 118kg), sit up scores increased 12% (37 to 42), push up scores increased 10% (29-32) and long jump scores are unchanged at 173 cm. Twenty percent of the subjects are at risk for depression and anxiety according to Duke Health Profile data, and the number of risk factors remains unchanged from baseline at 3. The most prevalent risk factors are obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and hypertension.
A 20,40, and 60 minute exercise program was implemented fall 07. The programs consisted of endurance, strength, and power training specific to the physical demands of fire fighting. The programs were also designed to be specific to the apparatus at each of the 6 stations. Data collected will assess if the implementation of the station specific programs increases utilization of the equipment at the stations.
Conclusions include initial modest increases in some fitness variables such as aerobic capacity but decreases in others such as a reduction in lean body mass and an increase in fat mass. Risk factor intervention programs typically collect data longitudinally. Data for this population will be collected again in 24 months to re- assess outcomes.
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