Moore Karlie J, Penry Jason T, Gunter Katherine B
Human Performance Laboratory, School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon.
J Strength Cond Res. 2014 Aug;28(8):2346-52. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000000433.
Firefighting requires high fitness to perform job tasks and minimize risk of job-related cardiac death. To reduce this risk, the International Association of Firefighters has recommended firefighters possess a VO2max ≥ 42 ml·kg-1·min-1. This recommendation is not universally applied because existing screening tests require costly equipment and do not accommodate firefighters unable to run. The purpose of this study was to develop a walking test to predict VO2max in firefighters using a standard treadmill. Thirty-eight male firefighters wore a vest weighing 20% of their body weight and performed a walking VO2max test on a standard treadmill. Walking speed was dependent on leg length and ranged from 3.6 to 4.3 mph. The test began with a 3-minute warm-up, after which the speed was increased to test speed. Every minute thereafter, the grade increased 1% until participants reached exhaustion. For cross-validation, 13 firefighters also performed a running VO2max test. The average test time was 16.95 ± 2.57 minutes (including warm-up) and ranged between 8 and 22 minutes. Average VO2max was 48.4 ± 6.5 ml·kg-1·min-1. Stepwise linear regression included time as the only significant independent variable explaining 76% of the variance in VO2max (p < 0.001). The standard error of the estimate was 3.2 ml·kg-1·min-1. The equation derived is: VO2max (ml·kg·min-1) = 11.373 + time (minute) × 2.184. On average, VO2max values measured while walking were 4.62 ± 5.86 ml·kg-1·min-1, lower than running values. This test has good potential for predicting VO2max among structural firefighters, and minimal equipment needs make it feasible for fire departments to administer.
消防工作需要具备较高的身体素质才能完成工作任务，并将与工作相关的心脏死亡风险降至最低。为降低这种风险，国际消防员协会建议消防员的最大摄氧量（VO2max）≥42毫升·千克⁻¹·分钟⁻¹。但这一建议并未得到普遍应用，因为现有的筛查测试需要昂贵的设备，且不适合无法跑步的消防员。本研究的目的是开发一种步行测试，以使用标准跑步机预测消防员的VO2max。38名男性消防员穿着相当于其体重20%的背心，在标准跑步机上进行步行VO2max测试。步行速度取决于腿长，范围为每小时3.6至4.3英里。测试开始时先进行3分钟的热身，之后速度提高到测试速度。此后每分钟坡度增加1%，直至参与者筋疲力尽。为进行交叉验证，13名消防员还进行了跑步VO2max测试。平均测试时间为16.95±2.57分钟（包括热身），范围在8至22分钟之间。平均VO2max为48.4±6.5毫升·千克⁻¹·分钟⁻¹。逐步线性回归分析显示，时间是唯一显著的自变量，可解释VO2max变异的76%（p<0.001）。估计标准误差为3.2毫升·千克⁻¹·分钟⁻¹。得出的方程为：VO2max（毫升·千克·分钟⁻¹）=11.373+时间（分钟）×2.184。平均而言，步行时测得的VO2max值比跑步时低4.62±5.86毫升·千克⁻¹·分钟⁻¹。该测试在预测结构性消防员的VO2max方面具有很大潜力，而且所需设备最少，消防部门实施起来切实可行。
