Are there sex differences in physiological parameters and reaction time responses to overload in firefighters?

Fabrizio Perroni,Luca Grandinetti,Erica Gobbi,Francesco Lunetta,Carlo Baldari,Ludovica Cardinali,Laura Guidetti,Vilberto Stocchi,Davide Sisti,Federico Grugni,Stefano Amatori,Lamberto Cignitti,Marco Bruno Luigi Rocchi,Riccardo Di Giminiani

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0249559

Abstract

Male and female firefighters work side-by-side in the same in strenuous and risky conditions. Anthropometrics, physiological, and reaction time (mean of reaction time -MRT-, and errors made -E) parameters of 12 Female and 13 Male firefighters were compared. Effect of overload (step test with and without equipment) on the MRT and E were analyzed on 3 trials (T1 = 1-1s, T2 = 0.5-1s, T3 = 0.5-0.5s), compared with a pre-test condition (basal). T-test between males and females was applied to assess differences (p<0.05) in all parameters. ANOVA with repeated measures and Bonferroni on 3 conditions of step test between males and females was applied in reaction time variables. Between MRT and E, in T1, T2 and T3 trials and the 3 test conditions, ANCOVA models with interactions were used. Differences (p<0.05) in anthropometric, physiological and reaction time data emerged across groups, and on the 3rd trials (T3 vs T1 and T2) in reaction time parameters of each group. ANCOVA showed differences (p<0.001) in E among trials. Post hoc showed significant differences in T1vsT3 and T1vsT2. MRT x trial interaction was extremely significant (P<0.001). Implementing fitness and reaction time exercise programs is important to decrease the injury risk and increase work capacity in firefighters with reference to female workers.

Highlights

Firefighting is a hazardous civilian occupation which is responsible for the safety of the public
To investigate the effects of overload on Reaction Time (RT) responses, we proposed two different conditions of execution of the test: step test performed without Protective clothing (PC) & SCBA and step test performed with PC & SCBA
No significant differences in E (F(2,215) = 0.438, p>0.05) among test conditions were found. This means that regardless of the trial, there were, on average, no differences among basal, after step test performed with PC & SCBA, and after step test performed without PC & SCBA

Summary

Introduction

Firefighting is a hazardous civilian occupation which is responsible for the safety of the public. It is characterized by different and variable (i.e. space, time, duration, breaks, type of the emergency) working conditions, in whose firefighters have to maintain full readiness for 24 hours (divided in shift work) and they are subjected to heavy physical demands and high psychological stress, often working under emergency circumstances [1]. In addition to the dangerous nature of the job, firefighters wear weighty and bulky Protective clothing (PC) and a Self-.

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