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Acta Physiologica 2012; Volume 204, Supplement 689
91st Annual Meeting of The German Physiological Society
3/22/2012-3/25/2012
Dresden, Germany
DEVELOPMENT OF A GENDER-NEUTRAL PHYSICAL SELECTION TEST FOR THE PROFESSIONAL FIRE-BRIGADES IN GERMANY
Abstract number: P315
Doermann1,2 U., Haep3 *A., Kleinoeder1,2 H., Bornholdt1,2 B., Wirtz1,2 N., Gerling3 I., Tischer4 U., Wendt4 M., Emberger4 D., Brixius5 K., Mester1,2 J.
1German Sport University Cologne, Institute of Training Science and Sport Informatics, Cologne, Germany
2German Research Center of Elite Sport, Cologne, Germany
3German Sport University Cologne, Institute of Movement and Neurosciences, Cologne, Germany
4German Sport University Cologne, Institute of Sport Sociology, Cologne, Germany
5German Sport University Cologne, Institute for Circulation Research and Sports Medicine, Cologne, Germany
Question:
To increase quota of women in German professional firefighting, existing physical selection tests should be verified for gender neutrality and demands of profession. Based on these results a scientifically established test battery should be developed with respect to national and international physical and physiological references.
Methodology:
A comprehensive online research of a total of 102 professional fire-brigades was conducted to reflect national physical selection tests. Furthermore, physiological criteria were derived from international tests, empirical studies analyzing physiological qualification profile of firefighting or explained variances between job-related and sport motoric tasks, references of validation research of firefighter tests, gender norm values of sport motoric tests, observation during education and ambulance service as well as advice of German firefighter experts.
Results:
Contrary to international, national tests consisted of sport motoric tasks. The leg and arm muscle-chains were mainly tested for strength abilities. Thereby, important job-related correlations were not taken into account concerning a balance of agonist-antagonist and muscle groups which transfer strength within muscle-chain. Unspecific strength related tests with norms above female elite sport were used. Aerobe endurance was mainly tested but requirements to rescue of persons or firefighting with breathing protections showed a mixed physiological demand of aerobic and anaerobic endurance.
Conclusion:
The research of national and international physical and physiological references to firefighting and sport motoric tasks resulted in a query model. This allows a classification of sport motoric selection tests based on gender neutrality and job-related demands so that a scientifically established test battery could be developed.
To cite this abstract, please use the following information:
Acta Physiologica 2012; Volume 204, Supplement 689 :P315