August 2025 - Get Fit For Duty Newsletter
- Get Fit For Duty
- Aug 27
- 7 min read
Welcome
Hello & Welcome to the Get Fit For Duty Research Newsletter!
The aim of this newsletter is to provide a monthly update on recent research focused on the health and wellbeing of firefighters. Each month will aim to have a guest researcher, who will give a insight into their current research and the positive impact their work will make to firefighters.
If you are currently undertaking research within the fire service sector, we would love to hear about your project, please email us at info@getfitforduty.co.uk.
Included in the August newsletter,
Scroll down to read the August edition of our newsletter.
August Monthly Roundup
Hello,
Thanks to those who subscribed and have read the newsletter. I hope that you have found it interesting and a useful insight to some of the work being carried out to support the health and wellbeing of firefighters.
Last month I had the pleasure of providing a tour of Essex Fire Service for two academics working in the Centre of Excellence for Equity in Uniformed Public Services (CEEUPS). Their research aims to promote equity, inclusion, and wellbeing in uniformed public services through transformational change, effective leadership, and trauma-informed practices that empower all.
It was great to discuss ideas on potential future research topics to promote equity, inclusion and wellbeing within the fire sector. I’m excited to see how these ideas could develop and I will be sure to provide any updates on upcoming newsletter issues.
You can learn more about CEEUPS here.
We are now into our third issue of the newsletter. Unfortunately, do to unforeseen circumstances, we do not have a guest researcher this month. However, I have provided two articles of the month which I believe would be of interest.
As mentioned previously, to help build this community, I need your help. If you know anyone who would be interested in this newsletter, please share it on your social channels and invite them to join our group on LinkedIn. Simply search for “Get Fit For Duty - Firefighter Health & Wellbeing Group”
Stay healthy,
Dr Liam Noll
Sport & Exercise Science, PhD
Newsletter Abstract
Don’t have time to read the full newsletter now? No problems, the Newsletter Abstract provides you will a brief summary of the articles included in this month’s issue.
Research Article of the Month (1) - Systematic Analysis of the Relationship Between Physical Activity Levels and Psychological Well-Being in Firefighters - Mumcu, N., & Canikli, A. (2025)
This study highlights the unique challenges faced by firefighters, including intense physical labour, exposure to trauma, and irregular work patterns. These factors contribute to higher levels of psychological strain compared to the general population. The authors argue that structured physical activity (particularly functional and high-intensity training) can improve both physical fitness and mental resilience. This review aims to explore the link between exercise and psychological well-being in firefighters, offering insights for developing targeted support programmes.
The review advocates for the implementation of multi-component wellness programs within fire departments, including regular fitness assessments, customized exercise protocols, and access to mental health resources. Moreover, the study identifies the need for future longitudinal research to assess the sustained impact of such interventions, particularly with respect to demographic variables such as age, gender, and years of service. In conclusion, physical activity should be considered not just a supportive health practice, but a critical determinant of occupational resilience and long-term well-being in the firefighting profession.
Research Article of the Month (2) - Age-Related Differences in Body Fat and Fitness of Firefighters Participating in a Health and Wellness Program - Lockie, R. G., Dulla, J. M., Higuera, D., Ross, K., Orr, R. M., Dawes, J. J., & Ruvalcaba, T. J. (2024)
This study compared age-related differences in body fat and fitness of firefighters participating in a health and wellness program. The authors stated that with age, fitness tends to decline, whereas body fat increases, which could impact firefighter occupational performance later in their careers. The authors conducted an analysis to identify if health and wellness program participation could reduce these age-related changes.
The findings indicated that specific fitness programs, specifically targeting strength and endurance for older firefighters (>50 years ) could contribute to increased health outcomes throughout a firefighters career.
Research article of the month (1) - Systematic Analysis of the Relationship Between Physical Activity Levels and Psychological Well-Being in Firefighters
Mumcu, N., & Canikli, A. (2025)
Introduction:
Throughout a firefighters career, they are exposed to incidents that require both physical demands with high psychological stress. Whilst on duty, firefighters frequently encounter traumatic incidents, long and irregular work hours, hazardous environments, and life-threatening situations.
Physical fitness is a key component of firefighting performance. Previous research has indicated that higher levels of fitness are associated with better occupational performance and reduced risk of injuries. Additionally, the positive benefits between increased physical activity levels and positive psychological well-being has been highly researched and documented. It has been suggested that physical activity can be used as a deterrent against occupational stress as it can increase mental resilience and improve mood.
The authors of this study aimed to systematically examine the role of physical activity in managing the high levels of physical and psychological stress experienced by firefighters, and its impact on occupational performance and overall health. Specifically, the study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of structured exercise programs - particularly high-intensity functional training (HIFT)—in improving firefighters’ physical fitness, psychological resilience, stress levels, burnout symptoms, and long-term health outcomes. Furthermore, the study investigates the benefits of integrating psychological interventions (e.g., mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral therapy) into physical training routines, offering a holistic approach to mitigating the physical and mental burdens associated with the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other job-related demands.
Methodology:
The analysis for included peer-reviewed studies published between 1990 and 2025.
The inclusion criteria included studies involving firefighters, examining physical activity levels and psychological outcomes, and providing quantitative or qualitative data.
Following screening of the studies found, 62 studies were included based on relevance and methodological rigor
Key Findings:
The authors highlighted that studies on fires and natural disasters have increased significantly since 2010. The authors identified that reasons for this trend could be attributed to the growing visibility of the impacts of global climate change, the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters.
The findings of this analysis highlighted the crucial role of physical activity in improving both the physical and psychological well-being of firefighters. Physical activity serves as a paramount intervention to mitigate stress, reduce burnout, and improve resilience.
The authors gave provided examples of studies such as CrombezBequet and Legrand (2024) and Klaperski and Fuchs (2021) where the findings demonstrated how structured exercise interventions act as stress buffers, directly improved mental health outcomes.
The authors highlighted the importance of developing physical training programs tailored to the specific occupational needs of firefighters, such as those integrating live fire drills or equipment handling, further optimize outcomes. The integration of high-intensity functional training (HIFT) has proven to be an effective strategy for improving job-specific fitness and psychological resilience. The findings highlighted the importance of regular fitness assessments to monitor progress of firefighters and adapt programs to evolving physical and mental requirements where applicable.
Psychological well-being is equally influenced by physical activity. This study included examples of studies (Serrano-Ibanez et al. (2023) and Lane (2024))that highlighted how regular exercise, combined with mental health interventions, significantly reduced PTSD symptoms and improves overall resilience. Such integrated approaches are critical for fostering a healthier and more effective workforce.
The authors concluded by stating that the relationship between physical activity and psychological well-being in firefighters is well established. They highlighted that structured fitness programs not only enhance operational readiness but also improve mental health outcomes. The authors advised that future research should explore long-term interventions and the role of organizational support in promoting firefighter wellbeing.
Research Article of the Month (2) - Age-Related Differences in Body Fat and Fitness of Firefighters Participating in a Health and Wellness Program
Lockie, R. G., Dulla, J. M., Higuera, D., Ross, K., Orr, R. M., Dawes, J. J., & Ruvalcaba, T. J. (2024)
Introduction:
This study outlined the high physical demands of firefighting and the importance of maintaining fitness for job performance and safety. The authors noted that previous research identified that ageing can negatively affect physical capacity, body composition, and cardiovascular health. The authors emphasised a lack of research on how ageing affects firefighters' fitness, especially among those engaged in structured health programmes.
Methodology:
This study examined how body composition and fitness levels differed across age groups among firefighters engaged in a health and wellness programme. The researchers analysed archival data from 270 firefighters (258 men and 12 women) who took part in the programme. Participants were divided into seven age groups: ≤ 29, 30–34, 35–39, 40–44, 45–49, 50–54, and 55+ years.
Researchers assessed a broad range of variables including:
Body composition: BMI, body fat percentage (BF %), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR).
Physical fitness tests: flexibility (sit-and-reach), grip strength, leg press strength (absolute and relative to body weight), core endurance (crunches), upper-body endurance (push-ups), and estimated maximal aerobic capacity (V̇O₂max)
Key Findings:
The results indicated that firefighters aged 55+ had significantly higher body fat percentages and waist circumferences compared to the three youngest age groups (≤ 29, 30–34, 35–39), with large effect sizes (d = 0.86–1.08). The 50–54 group also showed greater body fat compared to the 30–34 group (d = 0.77).
Firefighters aged 55+ exhibited a greater WHR, weaker grip strength, and completed fewer crunches and push‑ups than most younger cohorts (d = 0.60–1.32).
Firefighters in the 50–54 and 55+ groups had noticeably lower leg press strength (both absolute and relative) and reduced estimated V̇O₂max compared to younger age groups (d = 0.77–1.79).
Age-related disparities were minor in firefighters under 49 years old, suggesting that the health and wellness programme may be effective in attenuating declines among younger and mid‑career firefighters.
The findings indicate that age-related declines in fitness and increases in body fat are more pronounced from about age 50 onwards.
The authors suggested that firefighters participating in the wellness programme appear to maintain relatively stable fitness levels into mid‑career, though older age groups still show significant declines. Additionally, the authors highlighted the potential value of providing health and wellbeing programmes for firefighters especially those in the older age categories. The authors concluded that future research could benefit from developing age-related training strategies to see if this had any effect on mitigating the physical decline currently observed in firefighters later in their careers.
Do you need participants for your research project?
Are you looking for participants for your upcoming fire related research project? If you are, send me an email about your project and I would be happy to feature it in an upcoming newsletter to try and help increase participation for your research project.
Comments