The effect of structural firefighter protective clothing systems on single-legged functional hop test scores.

BACKGROUND

Firefighters must complete a physical ability test to assess work readiness. There is a lack of understanding of how personal protective clothing (PPC) affects functional performance tests for work readiness, e.g. Triple Hop for Distance (THD) and Triple Hop for Work (THW).

OBJECTIVE

To examine firefighter PPC's effect on the THD and THW measures.

METHODS

Thirty-one healthy, untrained participants (male = 20, female = 11; age = 23±3 years; height = 175.30± 11.12 cm; mass = 77.94±14.24 kg; mass in PPC = 89.14±14.68 kg) completed three successful trials of the THD on their dominant and non-dominant leg, with and without PPC. The main outcome measures included maximum and mean distances on the THD with and without PPC and THW.

RESULTS

We identified a significant decrease in THD measures (mean difference = 97.83 cm; p <  0.001) and THW measures (mean difference = -326.61J; p <  0.001) when donning PPC in the dominant leg. We identified a significant decrease in THD (mean difference = 121.48 cm; p <  0.001) and THW (mean difference = 493.15J; p <  0.001) for females, and a significant difference for THD (mean difference = 84.83 cm; p <  0.001) for males when donning PPC.

CONCLUSIONS

The addition of PPC decreased the THD and THW measures. The additional mass of the PPC required the more energy to move the same distance without the PPC.