A Description of Exercise Programs Implemented During a Firefighter Training Academy
Zachary A. Mang, Jason R. Beam, Eric D. Vigil, Adam H. Martinez- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Abstract
Objective
Thoroughly describe exercise programs that were performed during a firefighter training academy, including their effects on body composition and physical fitness.
Methods
Fourteen recruits performed exercise programs during a 24-week training academy and several components of their body composition and physical fitness were measured. Moreover, their heart rate (HR) and session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) were recorded during and after every training session, respectively.
Results
Fat-free mass, subcutaneous fat in the abdomen, cardiovascular fitness, flexibility, lower-body power, and muscular endurance significantly improved during the study, p ≤ 0.05. The highest HR and sRPE responses were observed during aerobic training (AT) sessions. The average HR responses relative to maximum HR were similar during AT, high-intensity circuit training (HICT), multi-modal high-intensity interval training (MM-HIIT), and high-intensity functional training (HIFT); however, the sRPEs during HICT and MM-HIIT were significantly lower than AT.
Conclusions
Several effective exercise programs can be implemented during firefighter training academies.