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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.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to (1) examine the relationship between perceived work-related fatigue and performance fatigability, and (2) assess the impact of percent body fat (%BF) on perceived fatigue constructs in career firefighters., Methods: Thirty-nine career firefighters completed body composition testing, the Occupational Fatigue Exhaustion Recovery (OFER15) scale assessing three subscales of work-related fatigue (acute fatigue, chronic fatigue, and inter-shift recovery), and maximal leg extensor isometric strength testing prior to and following an isotonic fatiguing protocol., Results: Performance fatigability was not associated with any of the OFER15 perceived work-related fatigue variables ( P ≥ 0.513). Greater %BF was associated with greater %∆ peak torque ( r = -0.41, P = 0.010) but none of the OFER15 perceived work-related fatigue variables ( P ≥ 0.638)., Conclusions: Performance fatigability was not associated with OFER15 perceived work-related fatigue, and greater adiposity negatively impacted performance fatigability but not perceived fatigability., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: None declared., (Copyright © 2024 American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.)

Adaptations to resistance training and subsequent performance can be undermined by inadequate interset recovery. Methods typically used to monitor recovery were developed for longitudinal use, making them time-inefficient within singular exercise bouts. If valid, perceptual recovery status (PRS) may be used as an efficient and inexpensive assessment tool to monitor individual recovery., Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the validity of PRS on monitoring recovery during a high-intensity back-squat session., Methods: Ten healthy men participated in the 2-session study (separated by at least 48 h). Session 1 included anthropometrics, PRS familiarization, and a 1-repetition-maximum back squat. Session 2 included a high-intensity protocol (5 sets of 5 repetitions; 5-min interset recovery; 85% of 1-repetition maximum). PRS was obtained before the first set and during the last 30 seconds of each 5-minute recovery; rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was also collected. A linear position transducer collected mean barbell velocity (MBV). Repeated-measures correlations assessed the common intraindividual relationships of PRS scores to intraset MBV and RPE, respectively., Results: A very large, positive correlation appeared between PRS and MBV (r [95% CI] = .778 [.613 to .878]; P < .0001). A large, negative correlation emerged between PRS and RPE (r [95% CI] = -.549 [-.737 to -.282]; P < .001)., Conclusions: Results indicate that PRS can be a means for practitioners to monitor individualized recovery. PRS tracked well with RPE, strengthening its utility in a practitioner-based setting. Findings provide insight into the practicality of PRS for recovery monitoring. It could be used alongside other measures (eg, MBV and countermovement jump) to individually program and maintain performance.

Upper body (UB) strength is important for occupational tasks and injury prevention in law enforcement officers (LEOs). Portable, reliable, and cost-effective assessments are needed to examine UB strength among LEOs in field settings. The purpose of this study was to examine the test-retest reliability and minimum difference (MD) values of a novel and portable isometric upright row assessment in probation officers. Thirty certified probation officers (18 women; age = 38.9 ± 9.0 years, body mass = 98.8 ± 27.1 kg, stature = 171.4 ± 14.0 cm) volunteered for this investigation. Testing occurred on-site across two sessions (2-5 days apart). Participants stood upon an aluminum plate with a chain attached to a handle and dynamometer. They grasped the handle with a pronated grip, two cm below the umbilicus, and performed three isometric maximal voluntary contractions. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC2,1), standard error of the measurement (SEM), and MD values were calculated. Results indicated no significant systematic error ( p = 0.080) across sessions. The ICC2,1, SEM, and MD values for UB strength were 0.984, 27.20 N (4.1% of the mean), and 75.38 N (11.3% of the mean), respectively. These data suggest this isometric upright row assessment is a reliable, portable, and cost-effective measure of UB strength to assess and monitor LEOs in field settings.