FireFit Steering Group

Research & Reports page.

Study into health and fitness related subjects takes place in many different forms; from research papers and reports to dissertations. If you are currently carrying out research in a particular field, you may find that similar work has already been completed and is freely available to access here.

If you have an interesting research document, report or dissertation that you would like to make available then please send it in for us all to share. Courtesy dictates that if you do use any of the material on this page then please reference the author.

Click on the 'Adobe' logo to freely download the reports.

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Abstract for Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain.

This Journal feature begins with a case vignette that includes a therapeutic recommendation. A discussion of the clinical problem and the mechanism of benefit of this form of therapy follows. Major clinical studies, the clinical use of this therapy, and potential adverse effects are reviewed. Relevant formal guidelines, if they exist, are presented. The article ends with the authors' clinical recommendations.

Stage

A 45-year-old construction worker with a 7-year history of intermittent low back pain is seen by his family physician. The pain has gradually increased over the past 4 months, despite pain medications, physical therapy, and two epidural corticosteroid injections. The pain is described as a dull ache in the lumbosacral area with episodic aching in the posterior aspect of both thighs; it worsens with prolonged standing and sitting. He is concerned about losing his job, while at the same time worried that continuing to work could cause further pain. The results of a neurologic examination and a straight-leg–raising test. the full version is available at the www.nejm.org Website, however a subscription is required to view the whole article.

Research - WF Peate, Gerry Bates, Karen Lunda, Smitha Francis and Kristen Bellamy

Core strength: A new model for injury prediction and prevention.

"Objective: Many work in injury prone awkward positions that require adequate flexibility and strength in trunk stabilizer muscle groups. Performance on a functional movement screen (FMS) that assessed those factors was conducted and an intervention was designed."

Research - Christopher R. Henry, BS Daniel Satran, MD Bruce Lindgren, MS Cheryl Adkinson, MD Caren I. Nicholson, RN Timothy D. Henry, MD

Myocardial Injury and Long-term Mortality Following Moderate to Severe Carbon Monoxide Poisoning.

"Context Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is a common cause of toxicological morbidity and mortality. Myocardial injury is a frequent consequence of moderate to severe CO poisoning. While the in-hospital mortality for these patients is low, the longterm outcome of myocardial injury in this setting is unknown."

Research - Rory C. Walsh
Queens College, The University of Melbourne.

Fluid and energy requirements of Australian Fire fighters

"This paper reviews the research literature on the fluid and energy requirements of individuals working in hot conditions: specifically Australian firefighters. The paper is intended to provide government and private industry with a scientific rationale upon which to construct appropriate fluid and energy ploicy."

Research - Torbjørn Soligard, Grethe Myklebust, Kathrin Steffen, Ingar Holme, Holly Silvers, Mario Bizzini, Astrid Junge, Jiri Dvorak, Roald Bahr and Thor Einar Andersen.

Free Abstract -

Comprehensive warm-up programme to prevent injuries in young female footballers: cluster randomised controlled trial

"Objective To examine the effect of a comprehensive warm-up programme designed to reduce the risk of injuries in female youth football."

Additional information on this report is available on the BMJ official website.

Report 1 - Physical Activity and Obesity - Richard Stevenson 2004.

What are the health risks of obesity and how can physical activity be employed to manage body fatness?

"The rapid increase in the prevalence of global obesity has sparked huge concerns as to its effects on public health around the world. The UK’s Faculty of Public Health defines obesity as “…an excess of body fat frequently resulting in a significant impairment of health and longevity” (House of Commons, 2004). This report identifies the prominent health risks of being obese and looks at how physical activity can be employed in the treatment of obesity."

Report 2 - Can Lifestyle Interventions Prevent or Control Diabetes Mellitus? - Paul Wilsher 2004.

"Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease characterised by elevated blood glucose levels caused by genetic and/or acquired deficiency of insulin production, or by a reduction in the effectiveness of the insulin produced by the pancreas. The disorder causes micro vascular and cardiovascular complications which severely impinge on quality of life and lead to reduced life expectancy."

Report 3 - Fat Metabolism and the Athlete - Paul Wilsher 2003.

Can the Ingestion of Medium Chain Triglycerides Enhance Performance by Producing A Glycogen Sparing Effect in Endurance Athletes?

"It is widely accepted that elite athletes are a product of genetics and quality training. To become or remain competitive at the top of their respective sports elite athletes must seize upon every legal advantage which might be available to them. A major contribution to success may be achieved by nutritional manipulation of an athlete’s diet as it is only by consuming the correct fuel mix that an athlete can produce the energy needed to perform at the highest level."

Report 4 - Is an Ergogenic Effect Produced by L-Carnitine Supplementation in Healthy Adults? - Paul Wilsher 2002.

"L-carnitine (carnitine) is a vitamin-like, short chain carboxylic acid, synthesised in the liver and kidneys from methionine and lysine and is found mostly in meat and dairy products. Whilst short and medium chain fatty acids are able to traverse the inner mitochondrial membrane, long chain fatty acids require a transport mechanism in which carnitine plays an essential role."

Report 5 - A critical appraisal of the multi-stage shuttle run against the Astrand VO2max treadmill protocol for determination of aerobic fitness of firefighter recruits. - Gary Bankhead 2001.

"The aim of this study was to identify how accurate the Multi-stage shuttle test actually is compared to the most accurate method of evaluating aerobic capacity which is; the continuous, incremental maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) assessment, using a treadmill. Using all male recruit fire fighters (n = 14) testing took place over a 4-week period at New College, Durham. Performed, in random order, the Multistage shuttle test and an Astrand maximal treadmill protocol of increasing elevation, which elicited VO2max."

Report 6 - IGA - Report 3e

Health related and economic benefits of workplace health promotion and prevention

"Within the framework of quasi-experimental studies reductions in absences from work of 12% to 36% arose for the participants in health promotion programmes or a reduction of 34% in the costs associated with absences from work. One uncontrolled study even reports a 68% reduction in absenteeism amongst programme participants."

Report 7 - Relationship between selected measures of of physical fitness and performance of a simulated fire fighting emergency task - January 1997.

Loren G. Myhre, Wadw H. Grimm, Charles R. Tattersfield, Ward T. Wells, Donald M. Tucker, David H. Bauer & Joseph R. Fischer, Jr.

"279 career fire fighters aged between 19 and 58 volunteered for this study to determine the relationship between selected measures of physical fitness and performance of a standardised strenuous task simulating fire fighting emergency activities."

Report 8 - Emergency Duties and Deaths from Heart Disease among firefighters in the United States.

Stefanos N. Kales, M.D., M.P.H., Elpidoforos S. Soteriades, M.D., Sc.D., Costas A. Christophi, Ph.D., and David C. Christiani, M.D., M.P.H.

"We reviewed summaries provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency of the deaths of all on-duty firefighters between 1994 and 2004, except for deaths associated with the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Estimates of the proportions of time spent by firefighters each year performing various duties were obtained from a municipal fire department, from 17 large metropolitan fire departments, and from a national database."

Report 9 - The cost-effectiveness of a back education program for firefighters: a case study.

Peter Kim, BSc, DC, FCCS(C), Jill A Hayden, BSc, DC, Silvano A Mior, DC, FCCS(C).

"The objectives of this study were to assess the feasibility of implementing a multi-faceted back injury prevention program in the community, and to assess the effectiveness of this program. Study design: A case study involving 92 firefighters from a suburb north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada."

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