Training to improve the physical preparation of the Ibarra Fire Department, Imbabura, Ecuador. 2nd Part

Abstract

The characteristics of the professional firefighter require physical preparation as a fundamental component that enhances skills in terms of qualities and physical aptitudes. In turn, intervention strategies are necessary. However, the analysis of the thematic State of the Art indicated insufficient treatment of various physiological indicators that determine beyond physical preparation. That is why this report describes a specialized training plan (1 year) to improve physical preparation indicators for the Imbabura fire brigade (N=229), classified as 40 women and 189 men. In this sense,  it has declared as objective: Evaluate the effects of a physical preparation plan for the Imbabura fire brigade. The results determined that physical performance has a positive relationship with age in speed and resistance capacities. This indicates the need to establish scales by age ranges; while the correlations between VO2max are very high with the 100m test (r=0.983). All comparisons between pretest and posttest were significantly different: Includes 40m speed (p=0.000), 1000m endurance test (p=0.000), VO2max (p=0.001), long jump test (p= 0.011), the sit-up test (p=0.000), and the elbow flexion test (p=0.000). The results show a notable improvement in the physical capacities of the firefighters. Its systematic improvement is recommended, to establish future comparisons with the performance of the fire departments of other countries. This would allow the design of better intervention strategies.