Effects of occupational tasks and personal protective equipment on static and functional balance among career firefighters
研究了个人防护装备和灭火任务对消防员静态与功能性平衡的影响，发现防护装备损害功能性平衡，而职业任务损害静态平衡，提示需采取措施减少疲劳导致的神经肌肉功能下降以降低受伤风险。
Musculoskeletal injuries are commonly incurred by firefighters. Most injuries are attributable to overexertion, fall, slip, and trip mechanisms. These injuries may be caused by many factors, including the independent and collective effects of wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) and fatigue induced by performing occupational-tasks. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of PPE and fire-suppression tasks on static and functional balance among firefighters. 32 healthy male career structural firefighters (Age: 31.8 ± 9.5 yr) participated in this study. Statistical analyses revealed significant differences in static balance measures pre versus post-work in PPE p ≤ 0.009, and functional balance outcomes pre-work in station uniform versus pre-work in PPE p < 0.001. PPE negatively affected firefighters' functional balance, whereas occupational tasks negatively affected static balance outcomes. These findings highlight the importance of utilising countermeasures to combat occupational fatigue-induced decrements in neuromuscular function to reduce injury risk among structural firefighters.