Impact of Various Clothing Variations on Firefighter Mobility: A Pilot Study

Robin Orr,Ben Schram,Daniel Maupin,Vini Simas,Elisa Canetti

doi:10.3390/safety5040078

Abstract

Firefighter clothing is known to restrict movement and increase the risk of musculoskeletal injury. The aim of this study was to investigate differences between clothing variations and firefighter mobility. Data were collected from eight firefighters using a randomized counterbalanced, repeated measures, design. Three different clothing variants (V1–V3) in addition to current station wear (S) were trialed. Combinations of S and V1 (SV1) and V2 (SV2) were also trialed. Outcome measures included: standing reach height; the Functional Movement Screen [FMS]; vertical jump; a visual analogue scale [VAS] for the FMS, vertical jump, step ups and crawl; and a mannequin sketch to mark areas of discomfort. V3 was preferred over S in all tasks and performed better both objectively (FMS and vertical jump) and subjectively (VAS scores). While V1 was typically associated with poorer performance, the impacts of V1 and V2 when compared to each other and S varied depending on the tasks performed. This variation was greater when V1 or V2 were worn with S (SV1 and SV2). Areas of discomfort across all variations was the knees, followed by the thighs. Clothing that has the least impact on, or improves, mobility (especially around the lower limbs) may help reduce firefighter injury and limit subjective discomfort.

Highlights

Firefighters perform tasks that can include fire suppression, person rescue, climbing stairs and ladders, and alighting to and from fire vehicles [1,2]
The aim of this research was to compare the impacts on firefighter mobility of three different clothing each other and a baseline measure daily station wear)
Overall, participating officers found V3 to be more comfortable than station wear and considered this clothing variation to have improved their ability to perform tasks with these subjective accounts aligning with the objective performance results in the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) and vertical jump

Summary

Introduction

Firefighters perform tasks that can include fire suppression, person rescue, climbing stairs and ladders, and alighting to and from fire vehicles [1,2]. As with other tactical occupations where load carriage is a requirement, such as in law enforcement (10 to 22 kg [4,5]) and the military (up to 45+ kg [6,7]), the loads carried by firefighters can increase their risk of physical injuries [8]. These injuries range from neurological injuries (like meralgias and brachial plexus palsy [9,10]) to the more typical musculoskeletal injuries (like sprains, strains, and fractures [11,12]). In a study by Park et al (2010) where obstacles were used to simulate debris faced by firefighters wearing a 9.1 kg load, 42 % (10 of 24) of participants made contact, at least once, with a 30 cm obstacle

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Discussion

Conclusion