Author(s): Victoria Ghanma
Mentor(s): Joel Martin, Marcie Fyock-Martin; Kinesiology
AbstractThere are no firefighting tests that measure the mobility and balance in firefighters (FFs), so little is known about the mobility and balance in FFs. Knowing more about the mobility and balance in FFs might provide more information on movement related injuries, especially since falls are the primary injury mechanisms in FFs.PURPOSE: This study aims to explore the mobility and balance of a cohort of firefighters, using the Functional Movement Screen® (FMS) and Y-Balance Test.
METHODS: Thirteen professional firefighters (males=10, females=3, age: 37 ± 9.31 yrs; Height: 180.75 ± 6.16 cm; Weight: 121.72 ± 19.65 kg) volunteered to be part of this study. The wall-sit-and-reach was used to measure flexibility. The mobility of FFs was measured using the Functional Movement Screen® (FMS). The Anterior Y-balance test (YBT) was used to measure lower extremity balance and asymmetries. Test for normality showed the data was not normally distributed, data was normalized with a log10 transformation. All descriptive data is presented in means and standard deviations.
RESULTS: The body fat percent of the firefighters was 38.83 ± 5.11 %. Their fat mass was 47.26 (10.94) kg, and their fat-free mass was 70.34 ± 12.05 kg. The wall-sit-and-reach scores were 25.96 ± 8.76 cm. The YBT (right leg) score was 57.54 ± 7.76 cm and the YBT (left leg) score was 59.08 ± 7.29 cm. The asymmetries found between the two YBTs (right and left) were 3.69 ± 3.10 cm. The total FMS scores were 11.39 ± 1.26.
CONCLUSION: Comparing the data in the present study to a study published that examined service members in the military, we found that the service members had higher YBT scores than the FFs. Also, all FFs scored <14 on the FMS, indicating that the FFs tested were at a higher risk of developing an injury.[/expand] [expand title="Audio Transcript"]Hi, my name is Victoria Ghanma, and I am a sophomore here at George Mason University. This summer team impact project project has taught me a lot, and I was taught how to discover. My project involves First Responders, specifically firefighters. This summer I had the opportunity to closely work with those firefighters and learn more about the firefighting occupation. Firefighters generally take a test called the CPAT, which stands for the candidate physical ability test. This test tests the physical ability of firefighters but it does not test their mobility, also known as movement, or their balance, so we decided to test for those two factors balance and mobility in those firefighters. Before measuring the firefighters' mobility and balance, we took basic anthropometrics using a stadiometer, which is similar to what you see at a hospital when they take your height. We also used a scale to measure weight, and we used the BOD POD to measure for volume displacement to give us factors like body fat percent, fat mass, and fat-free mass. We also measured the firefighters' flexibility using the classic sit and reach box that most of us have used in high school. Then, we measured the firefighters' lower extremity balance using something called the Y balance test, which also tests for asymmetries. The Y balance test was conducted on both legs and the asymmetries between each leg were calculated, calculated by subtracting the difference of the scores of the right leg and the scores of the left leg all absolute valued. We only used the anterior test for the Y balance test. And the other test that we used to measure movement was the functional movement screen shorted to the FMS, and it is used to measure our participants movement. So this test looks at certain movements of firefighters. There are multiple subtests in this test, and they all look at different mobility areas. We have the deep squat, hurdle step, inline lunge, shoulder mobility, active straight leg raise, and a trunk stability push-up and we have the quadruped rotary stability test. For all of those are in the functional movement screen and they measure different things. For the data we collected, we tested for the normality of this data. However, the data was not normally distributed, as we always see in research, so what we did was normalize the data using a log 10 transformation. This way, the descriptive data we gathered could be presented in means and standard deviations. So, in this table you can see our results. You will notice that the firefighters we tested were overweight. You will also notice that they lacked on tasks that require balance and coordination. We compared the firefighter y balance test to other service members in the military, and we found that the service members had an absolute reach mean of 60 centimeters on their left leg compared to Firefighters scoring 59.08 centimeters on their left leg and 59.8 centimeters on the service member's right legs compared to 57.54 centimeters in the firefighters' right leg. Also, looking at the functional movement screen, all our firefighters scored below 14 and anything below a 14 puts the firefighters at a higher risk of developing injuries. So, in our data, all firefighters had an increased injury risk. That's why it may be beneficial for the fire departments to adopt a mobility drill that can be done before each shift. This has been practiced in other countries such as Japan and this way the firefighters may also be warmed up for their calls. So, it would be useful to incorporate it here in the U.S and incorporating a mobility exercise in the firefighters' lives may improve movement and reduce injury risk which may raise their FMS scores. It may also be beneficial to conduct semi-annual screening to keep track of the firefighters' mobility and ensure that they are going in the right track. And, thank you very much for listening to my project and I hope you have a great day.[/expand]