Kong Pui Wah, Kan Tommy Yew Weng, Mohamed Jamil Roslan Abdul Ghani Bin, Teo Wei Peng, Pan Jing Wen, Hafiz Abd Halim Md Noor, Abu Bakar Maricar Hasan Kuddoos, Hostler David
Physical Education and Sports Science Academic Group, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
Responder Performance Centre, Civil Defence Academy, Singapore Civil Defence Force, Singapore, Singapore.
Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2022 Sep 9;10:918315. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.918315. eCollection 2022.
Back pain and back-related injuries are common complaints among emergency responders. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two strength and conditioning programs in improving back muscle characteristics and disabilities in emergency responders (firefighters/paramedics). Participants ( = 24) were randomized into two groups to complete 16 weeks of supervised exercise intervention: 1) Functional training used unilateral movements that mimicked the asymmetrical nature of emergency operations, 2) Conventional training performed bilaterally loaded exercises. Outcome measures were maximum isometric back extension strength, passive muscle stiffness, lumbar extensor fatigability, and revised Oswestry Low Back Pain Questionnaire. A mixed model Analysis of Variance with repeated measures was performed to compare the difference over time and between groups. While the training effects were similar between groups, both programs improved isometric back extension strength (+21.3% functional, +20.3% conventional, < 0.001, η = 0.625) and lumbar extensor muscle fatigability (+17.4% functional, +9.5% conventional, = 0.009, η = 0.191). Bilateral symmetry in muscle stiffness was improved as indicated by reduction in symmetry index (-7.1% functional, -11.8% conventional, = 0.027, η = 0.151). All self-reported pain and disability scores fell within the category of "" throughout the intervention and 6-month follow-up periods. For frontline firefighters and paramedics, both functional and conventional strength training are effective for improving back muscle characteristics.
背痛及与背部相关的损伤是急救人员常见的主诉。本研究的目的是比较两种力量与体能训练方案在改善急救人员（消防员/护理人员）背部肌肉特征和功能障碍方面的效果。参与者（n = 24）被随机分为两组，完成16周的有监督的运动干预：1）功能训练采用模拟应急操作不对称性质的单侧动作，2）传统训练进行双侧负荷练习。结果测量指标为最大等长背部伸展力量、被动肌肉僵硬度、腰伸肌疲劳性以及修订的奥斯维斯特里腰痛问卷。采用重复测量的混合模型方差分析来比较组间和随时间的差异。虽然两组的训练效果相似，但两种方案均改善了等长背部伸展力量（功能训练组增加21.3%，传统训练组增加20.3%，P < 0.001，η² = 0.625）和腰伸肌疲劳性（功能训练组增加17.4%，传统训练组增加9.5%，P = 0.009，η² = 0.191）。肌肉僵硬度的双侧对称性得到改善，表现为对称指数降低（功能训练组降低7.1%，传统训练组降低11.8%，P = 0.027，η² = 0.151）。在整个干预和6个月随访期间，所有自我报告的疼痛和功能障碍评分均属于“ ”类别。对于一线消防员和护理人员，功能训练和传统力量训练在改善背部肌肉特征方面均有效。
