The effect of training interventions on the physical fitness of firefighters: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Kazemi Pakdel, Fereshteh; Alavi, Khalil; Sazrbazi Zarandi, Mohammadali; Nedaei, Tahereh

doi:10.22034/27.1.105

[Home ] [Archive]

[ فارسی ]

Main Menu

Home

Journal Information

Articles archive

For Authors

For Reviewers

Ethics

Contact us

Search in website

Receive site information

Index

‌

Volume 27, Issue 1 (3-2025)

EBNESINA 2025, 27(1): 105-118

Back to browse issues page

The effect of training interventions on the physical fitness of firefighters: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Fereshteh Kazemi Pakdel

, Khalil Alavi

, Mohammadali Sazrbazi Zarandi

, Tahereh Nedaei ^*

Department of Sport Management University of Qom, Qom, Iran , t-nedaee@qom.ac.ir

Keywords: physical fitness, firefighters, human physical training

Full-Text [PDF 2075 kb] (194 Downloads) | Abstract (HTML) (826 Views)

Type of Study: Review | Subject: Disaster Medicine
Received: 2025/05/3 | Revised: 2025/06/4 | Accepted: 2025/06/5 | Published: 2025/06/6

Extended Abstract: (159 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.

References

1. Ras J, Kengne AP, Smith DL, Soteriades ES, November RV, Leach L. Effects of cardiovascular disease risk factors, musculoskeletal health, and physical fitness on occupational performance in firefighters-a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022;19(19):11946. doi:10.3390/ijerph191911946

2. Ras J, Smith DL, Soteriades ES, Kengne AP, Leach L. A pilot study on the relationship between cardiovascular health, musculoskeletal health, physical fitness and occupational performance in firefighters. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education. 2022;12(11):1703-1718. doi:10.3390/ejihpe12110120

3. Ras J, Smith DL, Kengne AP, Soteriades ES, Leach L. Physical fitness, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal health, and occupational performance in firefighters. Front Public Health. 2023;11:1241250. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1241250

4. Ras J, Smith DL, Kengne AP, Soteriades EE, Leach L. Cardiovascular disease risk factors, musculoskeletal health, physical fitness, and occupational performance in firefighters: A narrative review. Journal of Environmental and Public Health. 2022;2022:7346408. doi:10.1155/2022/7346408

5. Ras J, Kengne AP, Smith D, Soteriades ES, Leach L. Effects of cardiovascular health, musculoskeletal health and physical fitness on occupational performance of firefighters: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open. 2022;12(7):e061435. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2022-061435

6. Ras J, Smith DL, Soteriades ES, Kengne AP, Leach L. Association between physical fitness and cardiovascular health in firefighters. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023;20(11). doi:10.3390/ijerph20115930

7. Nazari G, MacDermid JC, Sinden KE, Overend TJ. The relationship between physical fitness and simulated firefighting task performance. Rehabilitation Research and Practice. 2018;2018:3234176. doi:10.1155/2018/3234176

8. Fyock-Martin MB, Erickson EK, Hautz AH, Sell KM, Turnbaugh BL, Caswell SV, et al. What do firefighting ability tests tell Us about firefighter physical fitness? A systematic review of the current evidence. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2020;34(7):2093-2103. doi:10.1519/jsc.0000000000003577

9. Chizewski A, Box A, Kesler R, Petruzzello SJ. Fitness fights fires: Exploring the relationship between physical fitness and firefighter ability. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021;18(22). doi:10.3390/ijerph182211733

10. Ras J, Soteriades ES, Smith DL, Kengne AP, Leach L. Association between physical fitness and musculoskeletal health in firefighters. Frontiers in Physiology. 2023;14:1210107. doi:10.3389/fphys.2023.1210107

11. Lockie RG, Dulla JM, Higuera D, Ross KA, Orr RM, Dawes JJ, et al. Body composition and fitness characteristics of firefighters participating in a health and wellness program: Relationships and descriptive data. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022;19(23). doi:10.3390/ijerph192315758

12. Leary M, Thomas J, Hayes R, Sherlock L. Evaluation of an occupational exercise training program for firefighters: Mixed methods pilot study. JMIR Formative Research. 2020;4(9):e17835. doi:10.2196/17835

13. Frost DM, Beach TA, Callaghan JP, McGill SM. Exercise-based performance enhancement and injury prevention for firefighters: Contrasting the fitness- and movement-related adaptations to two training methodologies. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2015;29(9):2441-2459. doi:10.1519/jsc.0000000000000923

14. Kamuk Y. Effects of training on firefighters' physical readiness, fitness and BMI levels. African Educational Research Journal. 2020;8(1):S17-S25. doi:10.30918/AERJ.8S1.20.003

15. Noh K, Lee K, Jamrasi P, Zhang Y, Park S, Seo D, et al. Physical fitness levels of South Korean national male and female firefighters. Journal of Exercise Science and Fitness. 2020;18(3):109-114. doi:10.1016/j.jesf.2020.03.004

16. Andrews KL, Gallagher S, Herring MP. The effects of exercise interventions on health and fitness of firefighters: A meta-analysis. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. 2019;29(6):780-790. doi:10.1111/sms.13411

17. Baek S-H, Park J-J, Seo D-I, Song W, Lee C, Lee H-J, et al. Systematic review of varied exercise programs on body composition and physical fitness for firefighters. The Asian Journal of Kinesiology. 2018;20(4):1-11. doi:10.15758/ajk.2018.20.4.1

18. Kim J-B, Kim C-B, Xiang Y-Y, Park J-J, Kang H-J, Song W, et al. Effect of a kinect-based exercise on improving job-related physical fitness tests for korean firefighters. The Asian Journal of Kinesiology. 2023;25(3):30-42. doi:10.15758/ajk.2023.25.3.30

19. Rosnah I, Noor D, Asnarulkhadi AS, Fathiah J, Nor HM, Abdul KO, et al. Assessing the impact of a 4-week physical training regimen on cardiorespiratory fitness among firefighter recruits. The Medical Journal of Malaysia. 2024;79(6):708-714.

20. Kim C, Ji C, Kim S. Effects of a high-intensity interval training program on the fitness and performance of firefighters. Fire Science and Engineering. 2020;34(2):97-102. doi:10.7731/KIFSE.642ab111

21. Bycura DK, Dmitrieva NO, Santos AC, Waugh KL, Ritchey KM. Efficacy of a goal setting and implementation planning intervention on firefighters' cardiorespiratory fitness. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2019;33(11):3151-3161. doi:10.1519/jsc.0000000000002683

22. Liu M, Zhou K, Li B, Guo Z, Chen Y, Miao G, et al. Effect of 12 weeks of complex training on occupational activities, strength, and power in professional firefighters. Frontiers in Physiology. 2022;13:962546. doi:10.3389/fphys.2022.962546

23. Chizewski A, Box A, Kesler RM, Petruzzello SJ. High intensity functional training (HIFT) improves fitness in recruit firefighters. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021;18(24). doi:10.3390/ijerph182413400

24. Gutiérrez-Arroyo J, García-Heras F, Carballo-Leyenda B, Villa-Vicente JG, Rodríguez-Medina J, Rodríguez-Marroyo JA. Effect of a high-intensity circuit training program on the physical fitness of wildland firefighters. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023;20(3). doi:10.3390/ijerph20032073

25. Hollerbach BS, Jahnke SA, Poston WSC, Harms CA, Heinrich KM. Examining a novel firefighter exercise training program on simulated fire ground test performance, cardiorespiratory endurance, and strength: a pilot investigation. Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology. 2019;14:12. doi:10.1186/s12995-019-0232-2

26. Sokoloski ML, Rigby BR, Bachik CR, Gordon RA, Rowland IF, Zumbro EL, et al. Changes in health and physical fitness parameters after six months of group exercise training in firefighters. Sports (Basel). 2020;8(11). doi:10.3390/sports8110143

27. Stone BL, Alvar BA, Orr RM, Lockie RG, Johnson QR, Goatcher J, et al. Impact of an 11-Week strength and conditioning program on firefighter trainee fitness. Sustainability. 2020;12(16):6541. doi:10.3390/su12166541

28. Lim Y-S, Park J-H, Kim J-H, Kim I-D, Kim J-J, Park J-B, et al. The effects of 12-Week training for the physical fitness and cardiovascular factors to examine physical fitness on firefighters test-taker. Journal of Industrial Convergence. 2021;19(4):111-126. doi:10.22678/JIC.2021.19.4.111

29. Cashin AG, McAuley JH. Clinimetrics: Physiotherapy evidence database (PEDro) scale. Journal of Physiotherapy. 2020;66(1):59. doi:10.1016/j.jphys.2019.08.005

30. Migliavaca CB, Stein C, Colpani V, Barker TH, Ziegelmann PK, Munn Z, et al. Meta-analysis of prevalence: I(2) statistic and how to deal with heterogeneity. Research Synthesis Methods. 2022;13(3):363-367. doi:10.1002/jrsm.1547

31. Langan D. Assessing heterogeneity in random-effects meta-analysis. Methods in Molecular Biology. 2022;2345:67-89. doi:10.1007/978-1-0716-1566-9_4

32. Seyedmehdi SM, Attarchi M, Cherati AS, Hajsadeghi S, Tofighi R, Jamaati H. Relationship of aerobic fitness with cardiovascular risk factors in firefighters. Work. 2016;55(1):155-161. doi:10.3233/wor-162375

33. Leischik R, Foshag P, Strauß M, Littwitz H, Garg P, Dworrak B, et al. Aerobic capacity, physical activity and metabolic risk factors in firefighters compared with police officers and sedentary clerks. PLoS One. 2015;10(7):e0133113. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0133113

34. Sergi TE, Bode KB, Hildebrand DA, Dawes JJ, Joyce JM. Relationship between body mass index and health and occupational performance among law enforcement officers, firefighters, and military personnel: A systematic review. Current Developments in Nutrition. 2023;7(1):100020. doi:10.1016/j.cdnut.2022.100020

35. Kim SR, Lee G, Choi S, Oh YH, Son JS, Park M, et al. Changes in predicted lean body mass, appendicular skeletal muscle mass, and body fat mass and cardiovascular disease. Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle. 2022;13(2):1113-1123. doi:10.1002/jcsm.12962

36. Fraser BJ, Blizzard L, Tomkinson GR, Dwyer T, Venn AJ, Magnussen CG. Added predictive value of childhood physical fitness to traditional risk factors for adult cardiovascular disease. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. 2025:zwaf102. doi:10.1093/eurjpc/zwaf102

37. Nogueira EC, Porto LG, Nogueira RM, Martins WR, Fonseca RM, Lunardi CC, et al. Body composition is strongly associated with cardiorespiratory fitness in a Large Brazilian Military Firefighter Cohort: The Brazilian firefighters study. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2016;30(1):33-38. doi:10.1519/jsc.0000000000001039

Send email to the article author

Add your comments about this article

‎ 10.22034/27.1.105

Mendeley

Zotero

RefWorks

Kazemi Pakdel F, Alavi K, Sazrbazi Zarandi M, Nedaei T. The effect of training interventions on the physical fitness of firefighters: A systematic review and meta-analysis. EBNESINA 2025; 27 (1) :105-118
URL: http://ebnesina.ajaums.ac.ir/article-1-1398-en.html

Rights and permissions
	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Volume 27, Issue 1 (3-2025)

Back to browse issues page

Persian site map - English site map - Created in 0.06 seconds with 39 queries by YEKTAWEB 4714