Estimation of Maximum Aerobic Capacity and its Related Factors Using Treadmill Test in Firefighters of Zahedan

Fire fighting is one of the most dangerous jobs, in which workers with bulky clothing, require high energy and aerobic capacity to carry out intensive activities, such as firefighting and rescue. The purpose of this study was to determine the maximum aerobic capacity and its related factors using treadmill test in firefighters of Zahedan.
In this descriptive-analytic cross-sectional study, 40 firefighting personnel of Zahedan were randomly selected and evaluated. The job satisfaction questionnaire was used and aerobic capacity was determined in a treadmill test. Spearman correlation coefficients, Mann-Whitney, and Kruskal-Wallis were used to analyze of the data.
The average maximum oxygen consumed in firefighters was 38.08 ± 14.02 mL/kg/min. There was no significant correlation between age and maximum aerobic capacity yet there was a reversed relationship between the amount of oxygen uptake and work experience (r = -0.386, P 0.014), maximum heart rate (r = -0.846, P The maximum aerobic capacity of the firefighters was higher than the reported values in many other occupational groups, yet it was lower compared with International Association of Fire Fighters recomendation. Therefore, increasing the maximum aerobic power of firefighters with a regular exercise program and pre-employment examinations is recommended to ensure that the physical work capacity is proportionate to the job.