The Impact of Inter-Limb Leg Lean Tissue Mass Asymmetry on Stair Climb Performance in Career Firefighters

Details

• Personal Author:
  Buoncristiani NA ; Gerstner GR ; Giuliani-Dewig HK ; Laffan MR ; Mota JA ; Ryan ED ; Trivisonno AJ
• Description:
  The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of inter-limb leg lean tissue mass (LTM) asymmetry on stair climb (SC) performance in firefighters. Forty-one career firefighters (age = 32.3 +/- 8.2 years, body mass = 92.1 +/- 18.6 kg, stature = 178.3 +/- 7.9 cm) visited the laboratory on one occasion and completed a whole body and leg composition assessment followed by a timed and weighted SC task. Percent body fat (%BF) and leg LTM were determined during a DEXA scan and regional thigh analysis. Asymmetry was assessed by the percent difference between limbs (dominant limb LTM - non-dominant limb LTM)/dominant limb LTM × 100) and a +/- 3% cut-off for asymmetry classification. Participants ascended and descended 26 stairs four times as quickly as possible while wearing a weighted (22 kg) vest. Point biserial correlations were used to assess the relationship of inter-limb leg LTM asymmetry and SC performance before and after controlling for age and %BF. Results indicated that inter-limb leg LTM asymmetry was associated with longer SC task time (poorer performance) both before (r = 0.432, P = 0.005) and after (r = 0.502, P = 0.001) controlling for age and %BF. Our findings indicated that inter-limb leg LTM asymmetry negatively impacts firefighter SC performance, which may be improved with appropriate exercise interventions. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aging Ergonomics Firefighters Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Ageing Author Keywords: Tactical Body Composition Climbing Fire Fighters Occupational Health Occupational Performance Performance Capability Physical Exercise
• ISSN:
  0014-0139
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Atlanta Region [OSHA] ; Dallas Region [OSHA] ; North Carolina ; Philadelphia Region [OSHA] ; Texas ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  338-344
• Volume:
  68
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20069372
• Citation:
  Ergonomics 2025 Mar; 68(3):338-344
• Contact Point Address:
  Eric D. Ryan, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, Adjunct Department of Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 209 Fetzer Hall, CB #8700, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-8700
• Email:
  edryan@email.unc.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2025
• Performing Organization:
  University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20210901
• Source Full Name:
  Ergonomics
• End Date:
  20260831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:116994a3f84a6f8896d76b6272e224141a49ed197ec91bd54db0d5aaeb669093aeef46b136734cc7b567f835444579227dddfb8ba30acc89f455c4fe73164bd9
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/207862/cdc_207862_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.76 MB ]