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The effect of training interventions on the physical fitness of firefighters: A systematic review and meta-analysis
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Fereshteh Kazemi Pakdel    , Khalil Alavi , Mohammadali Sazrbazi Zarandi , Tahereh Nedaei * |
| Department of Sport Management University of Qom, Qom, Iran , t-nedaee@qom.ac.ir |
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| Keywords: physical fitness, firefighters, human physical training |
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Full-Text [PDF 2075 kb]
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| Abstract (HTML) (454 Views)
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Type of Study: Review |
Subject:
Disaster Medicine
Received: 2025/05/3 | Revised: 2025/06/4 | Accepted: 2025/06/5 | Published: 2025/06/6
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Extended Abstract: (27 Views) |
Introduction
Firefighting is a vital and demanding profession committed to protecting lives and property from the hazards of fire and related emergencies. Firefighters are required to respond rapidly to incidents, using specialized techniques and equipment to extinguish fires and prevent their spread. Beyond technical skills, the role demands exceptional physical fitness, teamwork, and effective communication [1]. Given the hazardous and high-stress nature of their work, continuous training and regular physical exercise are essential. Firefighters' duties extend beyond firefighting; they also participate in rescue operations, crisis management, and community education on fire prevention. Considering the inherent challenges of this profession and the critical importance of maintaining optimal health and fitness for safe and effective job performance, prioritizing firefighters' health and well-being is imperative [2].
A thorough review of published research, especially randomized controlled trials, can provide valuable evidence supporting the benefits of exercise for firefighters. Such evidence is crucial to convince fire management professionals of the positive impact exercise can have on enhancing firefighters' health and fitness. To address gaps in existing literature and demonstrate the feasibility of exercise interventions for this population, this review systematically examines experimental studies on the effects of exercise programs on firefighters' physical fitness. Prior research identified only two relevant reviews to date [16]. One meta-analysis from 2019 did not conduct a systematic review of all relevant studies, while another review did not perform a meta-analysis [17]. This study therefore aimed to systematically update the literature since 2019 and to analyze the impact of training interventions on firefighters' physical fitness through a meta-analysis.
Methods
This systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines.
Primary sources were retrieved from four databases: PubMed, Scopus, CENTRAL (Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials), and Web of Science. The search covered all records up to April 16, 2025. Initially, Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) guided keyword selection, which was then refined to encompass all pertinent studies. To broaden the search, Google Scholar was also utilized to capture articles from other databases. The references of selected studies were reviewed to identify additional relevant sources.
Inclusion criteria were as follows: the population included firefighters of any age; interventions involved exercise programs; comparators were exercise versus non-exercise controls; outcomes included various physical fitness variables; and study designs were limited to randomized trials. Only articles published in English or Persian were considered. Two independent researchers conducted the search and screening of titles and abstracts according to these criteria. Any disagreements were resolved through discussion.
Results
The initial search yielded 536 titles from electronic databases. Manual searching and reference checks identified an additional 8 titles. After removing duplicates, 112 abstracts were screened. Of these, 93 were excluded, leaving 19 articles for full-text review. Following careful examination, 12 studies met inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis.
According to the PEDro scale, 9 of the 12 included studies scored high (7-11), while 3 were rated fair (5-6). Overall, the quality of the studies was deemed good, supporting their reliability for inclusion in the meta-analysis.
Discussion and Conclusion
This meta-analysis examined the effects of training interventions on firefighters’ physical fitness. The findings show that such programs significantly improve various fitness components, including muscular endurance, aerobic endurance, agility, muscular strength, power, and flexibility. To the authors' knowledge, no prior review has specifically analyzed training interventions' effects on firefighters’ physical fitness. Although two earlier reviews addressed related topics [16, 17], the current study’s findings align with theirs and reinforce that structured exercise programs effectively enhance firefighters' physical capabilities. These results highlight the importance of implementing such interventions to promote health and occupational performance in this critical profession.
Furthermore, the included studies used standardized assessment tools, allowing separate meta-analyses for each fitness variable. The high methodological quality of these studies further strengthens the validity and reliability of the results. Egger’s test showed no evidence of publication bias.
The analysis also revealed low heterogeneity among studies, indicating consistency in assessment methods, exercise types, training volume and intensity, supervision, sample characteristics, session durations, exercise nature, and overall program length. This strong consistency enhances the generalizability of the conclusions, further underscoring the value of exercise interventions in improving firefighters’ physical fitness.
Ethical Considerations
This work is a systematic review and meta-analysis of previously published studies and involves no new human or animal participants. All data were sourced from studies that had obtained ethical clearance in their original contexts.
Funding
There is no funding support.
Authors’ Contribution
Authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved the content of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work.
Conflict of Interest
Authors declared no conflict of interest.
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