Sains Malaysiana 44(10)(2015): 1461–1466

A Cross-Sectional Evaluation on Physical Fitness of Malaysian Firefighters

(Suatu Penilaian Keratan Rentas Kecergasan Fizikal Ahli Bomba Malaysia)

ATIKAH, C.W.¹, NIHAYAH, M.¹.*, LEONARD, J.H.², OMAR, B.¹, NOOR IBRAHIM, M.S.³,

ZURKARNAIN, M.K.⁴, JAMRI, M.⁴ & WAN MOHD NOOR, I.⁴

¹Programme of Biomedical Science, School of Diagnostic and Applied Health Sciences

Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

²Programme of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitations, Faculty of Health Sciences

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

³Programme of Occupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitations, Faculty of Health Sciences

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

⁴Fire and Rescue Department Malaysia, Malaysia

Received: 13 May 2015/Accepted: 4 June 2015

ABSTRACT

Fire fighting is one of the most strenuous activities in the hazardous fire service industry. Firefighters have to be physically fit in order to provide an effective and safe fire prevention to the afflicted community and as well as to themselves. The aimed of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the physical fitness among Malaysian firefighters. The hand grip test to evaluate hand and muscular strength was measured using hand dynamometer and one-minute sit ups and one-minute push ups were conducted to measure abdominal muscle endurance. The sit and reach test was carried out to measure lower back and hamstring flexibility. VO2max was assessed by a 20 meter shuttle run test to measure cardiorespiratory fitness. A total of 385 subjects were participated and the results showed that 77.1% (n=297) and 84.8% (n=325) of them had very poor scores for hand grip strength and VO2 max, respectively. For one-minute sit ups, 40.8% (n=157) of subjects scored excellent. Meanwhile, 32.7% (n=126) subjects scored average for one-minute push ups. For flexibility test, 53.2% (n=205) subjects had poor flexibilty. The results showed there were significantly difference between one-minute sit ups (p<0.001), one-minute push ups (p<0.05), flexibility (p<0.05) and VO2 max (p<0.001) according to age. As a conclusion, this study provides representative data on physical fitness among Malaysian firefighters. These findings suggested the needs to explore the issues behind low physical fitness among Malaysian firefighters and to find ways to improve them.

Keywords: Cardiorespiratory fitness; firefighters; Malaysia; muscle endurance; muscle strength; physical fitness

ABSTRAK

Memadam kebakaran adalah salah satu aktiviti berat dalam industri perkhidmatan bomba yang berbahaya. Anggota bomba perlu mempunyai fizikal yang sihat untuk memberi perkhidmatan pencegahan kebakaran yang berkesan dan selamat kepada masyarakat terlibat dan juga diri mereka sendiri. Kajian keratan rentas ini bertujuan untuk menilai kesihatan fizikal dalam kalangan anggota bomba di Malaysia. Ujian genggaman tangan untuk menilai kekuatan tangan dan otot diukur menggunakan dinamometer tangan serta bangkit tubi dan tekan tubi masing-masing satu minit dijalankan untuk mengukur daya tahan otot abdomen. Ujian duduk dan jangkau telah dijalankan untuk mengukur kefleksibelan bahagian belakang dan hamstring. VO2max dinilai melalui ujian larian ulang-alik 20 meter untuk mengukur kesihatan pernafasan kardio. Seramai 385 subjek telah mengambil bahagian dan keputusan menunjukkan bahawa 77.1% (n=297) dan 84.8% (n=325) mempunyai skor yang rendah masing-masing untuk kekuatan genggaman tangan dan VO2 max. Bagi satu minit bangkit tubi pula, 40.8% (n=157) subjek memperoleh markah cemerlang. Sementara itu, 32.7% (n=126) subjek memperoleh skor sederhana untuk satu minit tekan tubi. Bagi ujian kefleksibelan pula, 53.2% (n=205) subjek mempunyai kefleksibelan yang rendah. Keputusan menunjukkan terdapat perbezaan yang ketara antara satu minit bangkit tubi (p<0.001), satu minit tekan tubi (p<0.05), kefleksibelan (p<0.05) dan VO2 max (p<0.001) mengikut umur. Kesimpulannya, kajian ini menyediakan data wakilan untuk kesihatan fizikal dalam kalangan anggota bomba Malaysia. Kajian ini mencadangkan keperluan untuk mengkaji isu di sebalik kesihatan fizikal yang rendah dalam kalangan anggota bomba Malaysia dan mencari jalan untuk memperbaiki keadaan ini.

Kata kunci: Bomba; kekuatan otot; kesihatan fizikal; kesihatan pernafasan kardio; ketahanan otot; Malaysia

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*Corresponding author; email: nihayahmohammad@gmail.com