Train-the-Trainer Delivered Exercise for Firefighters

Overseen By Gena Gerstner, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Disqualifiers: Highly active, Pregnancy, Recent injury, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 14

Duration: 6 weeks

40 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Integrated Exercise Program for firefighters?

Research shows that exercise programs can improve firefighters' health and fitness, including better flexibility, endurance, and aerobic fitness, which are important for their demanding job. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the Train-the-Trainer Delivered Exercise for Firefighters generally safe for humans?

The research on exercise programs for firefighters, including functional training and fitness assessments, suggests that these programs are generally safe. They focus on improving physical fitness and reducing risks like cardiovascular disease, which are important for firefighter safety. ^{3 5 6 7 8}

How is the Integrated Exercise Program treatment for firefighters different from other treatments?

The Integrated Exercise Program is unique because it is a train-the-trainer delivered exercise specifically designed for firefighters, focusing on improving their occupational activities, strength, and power through complex training, which has shown greater improvements compared to traditional resistance training. ^{1 3 9 10 11}

What is the purpose of this trial?

Purpose: To collect and report feasibility data for conducting a future cluster randomized trial to evaluate the efficacy of a TRAINER delivered integrated exercise program in career firefighters, and to determine intervention fidelity and preliminary effects of a TRAINER delivered integrated exercise program in career firefighters. Participants: 52 career firefighters 18 - 60 years old (40 trainees, 6 trainers, 6 administrators). Procedures (methods): Enrolled fire stations will be randomly assigned (3:2 allocation ratio) to a TRAINER or wait-list control (CON) group, stratified by city, using computer-generated random numbers. All enrolled firefighters will undergo a series of assessments at baseline (week 0) and post-testing (week 7) following the TRAINER delivered 6-week intervention.

Research Team

Eric Ryan, PhD

Principal Investigator

UNC Chapel Hill

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for career firefighters aged 18-60 who are medically cleared for fire duties and can consent to the study. It's not for those highly active in vigorous exercise, involved in injury lawsuits, pregnant, or recently injured.

Inclusion Criteria

A career firefighter from a local department (Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Durham)

Provide informed consent prior to any study procedures are performed

Medically cleared for fire suppression duties

Exclusion Criteria

Pregnancy

Highly active firefighters, defined as performing 4 or more days/week of vigorous exercise

Involved in an active workers' compensation or personal injury case

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline Assessment

Participants undergo baseline assessments to evaluate initial conditions

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Participants receive a TRAINER delivered integrated exercise program, including neuromuscular warm-up and high intensity interval training, 2 times per week

6 weeks

12 sessions (in-person)

Post-Intervention Assessment

Participants undergo post-testing to evaluate the effects of the intervention

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Integrated Exercise Program

Trial Overview The trial tests a new exercise program delivered by trained instructors over six weeks. Firefighters at participating stations will be randomly chosen to either start training immediately or wait (control group), with assessments before and after.

Participant Groups

Group I: TRAINER Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The TRAINER group will receive an integrated exercise program, led by a peer-trainer, including a neuromuscular warm-up and high intensity interval training at their respective fire stations 2 times per week for 6 weeks.

Group II: Waitlist Control Active Control 1 Intervention

The waitlist control group will not receive training during the course of the study, but will be offered the opportunity to receive the integrated exercise program after the study ends.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,588

Recruited

4,364,000+

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH/CDC)

Collaborator

Trials

44

Recruited

50,000+

References

1. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of an Occupational Exercise Training Program for Firefighters: Mixed Methods Pilot Study. [2020]

2. Denmark pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of exercise interventions on health and fitness of firefighters: A meta-analysis. [2019]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Functional Training in Portuguese Firefighters: Impact of Functional Training With or Without Personal Protective Equipment. [2023]

4. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Changes in Health and Physical Fitness Parameters After Six Months of Group Exercise Training in Firefighters. [2020]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physical fitness improvements and occupational low-back loading - an exercise intervention study with firefighters. [2022]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Firefighter exercise protocols conducted in an environmental chamber: developing a laboratory-based simulated firefighting protocol. [2018]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Firefighter health and fitness assessment: a call to action. [2016]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Firefighters' Physical Activity and Waist Circumference as Predictors of VO2max. [2020]

9. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of 12 weeks of complex training on occupational activities, strength, and power in professional firefighters. [2022]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Customized Occupational-Specific Graded Exercise Test for Structural Firefighters: An Update. [2023]

11. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Utilizing multimodal high-intensity interval training for a firefighter training academy during the COVID-19 pandemic. [2023]