The Impact of Firefighter Personal Protective Equipment and Treadmill Protocol on Maximal Oxygen Uptake

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE) on the determination of maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max) while using two different treadmill protocols: a progressive incline protocol (PIP) and a progressive speed protocol (PSP), with three clothing conditions (Light-light clothing; Boots-PPE with rubber boots; Shoes-PPE with running shoes). Bruce protocol with Light was performed for a reference test. Results showed there was no difference in VO_2max between Bruce Light, PIP Light, and PSP Light. However, VO_2max was reduced in Boots and Shoes with shortened maximal performance time (7 and 6 min reduced for PIP Boots and Shoes, respectively; 11 and 9 min reduced for PSP Boots and Shoes, respectively), whereas the increasing rate of VO₂ in Boots and Shoes during submaximal exercise was greater compared with Light. Wearing firefighter boots compared with wearing running shoes also significantly affected submaximal VO₂ but not VO_2max. These results suggest that firefighters’ maximal performance determined from a typical VO_2max test without wearing PPE may overestimate the actual performance capability of firefighters wearing PPE.

Keywords:

• clothing weight
• graded exercise test
• maximal oxygen uptake
• personal protective equipment
• protective boots

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We would like to express our thanks to Mutsuhiro Fujiwara, Shizuka Umezaki, and Eric A. Stone for their technical advice and invaluable assistance. We also would like to express our sincere gratitude to the NPPTL internal reviewers: Drs. Aitor Coca, Nina L. Turner, and W. Jon Williams, for their review of the manuscript. We are grateful to all subjects for their participation. This study was supported by the Promotion Program for Fire and Disaster Prevention Technologies, Japan.

The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of NPPTL/ NIOSH/CDC. Mention of commercial products does not constitute endorsement by NPPTL/NIOSH/CDC.