title: Impact of a supervised worksite exercise program on back and core muscular endurance in firefighters.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Low back pain is a leading cause of disability in firefighters and is related to poor muscular endurance. This study examined the impact of supervised worksite exercise on back and core muscular endurance in firefighters.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cluster randomized controlled trial was used for this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study occurred in fire stations of a municipal fire department (Tampa, Florida).
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were 96 full-duty career firefighters who were randomly assigned by fire station to exercise (n = 54) or control (n = 42) groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Exercise group participants completed a supervised exercise targeting the back and core muscles while on duty, two times per week for 24 weeks, in addition to their usual fitness regimen. Control group participants continued their usual fitness regimen.
  
  
  METHODS
  Back and core muscular endurance was assessed with the Biering-Sorensen test and plank test, respectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Changes in back and core muscular endurance from baseline to 24 weeks were compared between groups using analysis of covariance and linear mixed effects models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 24 weeks, the exercise group had 12% greater (p = .021) back muscular endurance and 21% greater (p = .0006) core muscular endurance than did the control group. The exercise intervention did not disrupt operations or job performance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A supervised worksite exercise program was safe and effective in improving back and core muscular endurance in firefighters, which could protect against future low back pain.
authors: John M
authors: JM
authors: Mayer
authors: William S
authors: WS
authors: Quillen
authors: Joe L
authors: JL
authors: Verna
authors: Ren
authors: R
authors: Chen
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Lunseth
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: Dagenais
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D061388:Firefighters; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D009786:Occupational Health Services; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D017132:Workplace
keywords: Exercise Training; Firefighters; Health focus: fitness/physical activity; Low Back Pain; Manuscript format: research; Outcome measure: biometric; Physical Fitness; Prevention; Prevention Research; Research purpose: intervention testing/program evaluation; Setting: workplace; Strategy: skill building/behavior change; Study design: randomized trial; Target population age: youth, adults; Target population circumstances: geographic location