EFFECTS OF A 10-WEEK EXERCISE INTERVENTION PROGRAM ON EXERCISE AND WORK CAPACITIES IN BELFAST AMBULANCEMEN

The objective of the present study was to investigate the occupational benefits of an exercise intervention programme, including changes in physical working capacity and other physical fitness measures on a gro up of Belfast ambulancemen. Physical training was performed twice week ly for 10 weeks and consisted primarily of indoor soccer and circuit-t raining sessions. Both experimental (n = 8) and control subjects (n = 6) were assessed for height (HT), weight (WT), body composition (perce ntage fat), standing broad jump (SBJ), flexibility (Flex), and sit-up performance (SU). The experimental group was further assessed for bloo d pressure (BP), hand grip strength (HGS), maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max), end lactate concentration (EL), anaerobic threshold (AT) an d leg strength (LS). Working capacity was also assessed during a stage d emergency incident, using a portable telemetric gas analyser. Signif icant changes in the experimental group were found following training for Flex, SU, SBJ, VO2 max (all P < 0.05), EL and AT (P < 0.01). A sig nificant drop in the metabolic cost of the simulated emergency inciden t was also noted following training. No significant differences were f ound for the control group over the experimental period. The present s tudy indicated that a twice-weekly exercise intervention programme was effective in improving the physical fitness of Belfast's ambulancemen . Such a programme could prove cost-effective by increasing work capac ity and decreasing absenteeism related to musculoskeletal injury.