Differences in Fitness between Firefighter Trainee Academy Classes and Normative Percentile Rankings

Robert George Lockie, Robin M. Orr, Fernando Montes, Tomas Jason Ruvalcaba and J. Jay Dawes
Additional contact information
Robert George Lockie: Department of Kinesiology, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92831, USA
Robin M. Orr: Tactical Research Unit, Bond University, Robina, QLD 4226, Australia
Fernando Montes: Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles, CA 90063, USA
Tomas Jason Ruvalcaba: Department of Kinesiology, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92831, USA
J. Jay Dawes: School of Kinesiology, Applied Health and Recreation, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-17

Abstract: Fire academy training classes may have trainees with a range of different fitness capabilities. Documentation of trainee fitness could indicate the need for flexibility in physical training emphases. Therefore, data from six academy classes (males = 274; females = 31) were analyzed, including: Illinois agility test (IAT), push-ups, pull-ups, leg tucks, multistage fitness test, backwards overhead 4.54 kg medicine ball throw (BOMBT), 10-repetition maximum deadlift, and 18 kg kettlebell farmers carry. A one-way ANOVA, with the Bonferroni post hoc test, calculated between-class fitness differences. Normative fitness test data were produced via percentile ranks. Classes 5 and 6 had the most females ( n = 15). Class 1 completed the IAT faster than all classes ( p ≤ 0.009). Classes 1 and 4 had a further BOMBT distance than Classes 5 and 6, and Class 3 outperformed Class 6 ( p ≤ 0.044). Class 4 completed more leg tucks than Class 5 ( p = 0.047). Class 1 had a greater deadlift than Classes 3, 4, and 6, and Class 2 outperformed Classes 3–6 ( p ≤ 0.036). Class 3 was slower in the farmers carry compared to all classes ( p ≤ 0.002). Percentile rankings showed that most females (48–100%) were in the 0–29% rank. Staff should implement individualized programs where appropriate for trainees as cohort fitness differences exist. Female trainees may need targeted maximal strength and power development.

Keywords: aerobic capacity; deadlift; first responder; Illinois agility test; backwards overhead medicine ball throw; leg tuck; push-ups; pull-ups; sex differences; tactical (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/11/6548/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/11/6548/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:11:p:6548-:d:825427

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().