Exercise Physiology in Firefighters and Emergency Responders: Optimizing Physical Fitness and Occupational Safety

Firefighters and emergency responders face highly complex and multidimensional physiological demands, including intense aerobic and anaerobic activities, tolerance to heavy loads from protective equipment, severe heat stress, respiratory limitations, and psychological pressures. This comprehensive and systematic review article is based on the analysis of ۱۸۷ scientific papers published in JCR journals (Q۱ and Q۲) from ۲۰۱۰ to ۲۰۲۴, with extrapolation of research trends up to ۲۰۲۶. The methodology was based on the PRISMA ۲۰۲۰ protocol, with searches conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, and Embase databases. This review examines the physiological demands of the job, key components of physical fitness, evidence-based training interventions (HIIT, functional strength training, simulated operational exercises), the impact of personal protective equipment (PPE), the role of nutrition and recovery, gender and age differences, and the direct relationship between physical fitness and occupational safety indicators (reduction in cardiovascular deaths, musculoskeletal injuries, and improvement in operational performance). The findings indicate that high levels of VO₂max (≥۴۵ ml/kg/min), explosive power, muscular endurance, and heat tolerance capacity can reduce the risk of on-duty cardiovascular death by ۵۵-۶۵% and musculoskeletal injuries by ۴۲-۵۲%. Periodized combined training programs, heat acclimation, precise nutritional management, and the use of wearable technologies are the most effective approaches. The present article provides a complete reference for specialists, emergency services managers, and policymakers by presenting fitness standards tables, a complete ۱۲-week training protocol, operational recommendations, and future research directions.

کلیدواژه ها:

Exercise physiology ، firefighters ، emergency responders ، occupational physical fitness ، HIIT ، PPE ، heat acclimation ، occupational safety ، occupational injury ، periodized training