Resumen

AVELLANEDA PINZON, Salin Eduardo  y  URBINA, Adriana. Aerobic capacity of aeronautical firefighters. Rev. Univ. Ind. Santander. Salud [online]. 2015, vol.47, n.1, pp.61-67. ISSN 0121-0807.

Introduction: Aeronautical firefighters manage emergencies at airports and nearby. Their work involves low-intensity activities for long periods and, in emergencies high intensity activities that require good physical condition. Objective: To determine the aerobic capacity of aeronautical firefighters and its determinant factors. Methods: Cross sectional study in 23 male aeronautical firefighters. Maximum oxygen consumption (VO₂max) and ventilatory threshold was determined by ergospirometry (FitMate® Pro) during a maximum protocol on treadmill. Body composition was assessed by adipometry. Physical activity level was determined with the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ) short version. Results and Discussion: VO₂max was 44.6 ± 6.0 ml/kg/min and ventilatory threshold was 4± 11%. 48% of subjects were classified with moderate physical activity and 52% with vigorous. VO₂max was correlated with physical activity (r = 0.72; p = 0.000), and the last with the percentage of body fat (r = -0.46; p = 0.027) and body mass index (BMI) (r = -0.43; p = 0.039). Although 17 of 23 subjects had IMC≥25 kg /m², body fat was between 12.5 and 22.8%. Conclusion: Although VO₂max was found in good level; because of the kind of tasks that firefighters develop during emergency attention, it is suggested to improve anaerobic threshold with high intensity intervals training. Among firefighters, BMI does not seem to be adequate to assess cardiovascular risk, and implementation of percentage of body fat is recommended.

Palabras clave : firefighters; oxygen consumption; anaerobic threshold; occupational health (Mesh).

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