Core Strength Training to Prevent Injuries in Firefighters
Author Information
Author(s): WF Peate, Gerry Bates, Karen Lunda, Smitha Francis, Kristen Bellamy
Primary Institution: University of Arizona
Hypothesis
Can core strength and functional movement training reduce injury rates among firefighters?
Conclusion
Core strength and functional movement training significantly reduced injuries and lost time due to injuries among firefighters.
Supporting Evidence
- The intervention reduced lost time due to injuries by 62%.
- The number of injuries decreased by 42% over a twelve-month period.
- Firefighters with a history of prior injury scored lower on functional movement tests.
Takeaway
Firefighters can get hurt easily, but training their core muscles can help them stay safe and avoid injuries.
Methodology
Functional movement screens were conducted on firefighters, followed by a core strength training intervention.
Potential Biases
Potential bias from self-reported injury data and the lack of randomization in the intervention.
Limitations
The study relied on historical control data and did not use paired data for injury comparisons.
Participant Demographics
433 firefighters, 94.2% male, ages 21 to 60, mean age 41.8 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p = 0.033 for injury correlation with FMS score.
Confidence Interval
(1.04, 2.71)
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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