Decreased Ankle Strength Is Associated With Impaired Postural Balance In Firefighters

Abstract

One of the leading causes for firefighter injuries reported in the United States is slips, trips and falls suggesting that maintaining postural balance is an important issue in firefighter safety and health. Little information is available about how ankle mobility and strength are affected by strenuous firefighter activity and its consequent influence on postural balance. PURPOSE: To assess changes in functional ankle mobility and strength and a consequent effect on postural balance following firefighter activities. METHODS: Eight healthy men completed a battery of firefighter activity simulations, consisting of uphill walking, weight carrying, crawling, stepping, and dummy dragging, lasting approximately 40 minutes to completion while wearing a full standard firefighter ensemble. Immediately before and after the simulation, subjects were assessed for ankle range of motion (ROM) and isometric peak power (IPP) of plantarflexion, dorsiflexion, inversion, and eversion using an isokinetic dynamometer, and for postural balance to determine overall stability index (OSI) under a dynamic perturbation condition using a Biodex balance system. RESULTS: Ankle ROM did not change significantly, but ankle IPP except dorsiflexion was significantly reduced in POST measurements. There was a significant difference between PRE and POST OSI (0.96±0.52, 1.22±0.80, respectively) (p=0.041). CONCLUSIONS: Decrement in functional ankle ROM was minimal; however, ankle IPP was significantly reduced to which postural stability in a dynamic perturbation condition was impaired. This implicates that ankle fatigue developed due to strenuous firefighter activity is likely an important determinant for impaired postural balance in firefighters.Table: No title available.