Term of Award

Spring 2022

Degree Name

Master of Science in Kinesiology (M.S.)

Document Type and Release Option

Thesis (open access)

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Department

Department of Health Sciences and Kinesiology

Committee Chair

Stephen Rossi

Committee Member 1

Bridget Melton

Committee Member 2

Haresh Rochani

Committee Member 3

Mark Abel

Committee Member 3 Email

mark.abel@uky.edu

Abstract

Adequate handgrip strength (HGS) is important to safely and effectively perform fireground tasks. However, there is limited research describing the deleterious impact of glove use and fatigue from occupational tasks on HGS. Therefore, the aims of this investigation were to quantify the impact of glove use and occupational tasks on HGS, to explore the relationship between HGS versus the glove and task-induced decrement in HGS, and to evaluate the relationship between HGS and decrement in HGS versus occupational performance. Fourteen (Males: n=13) career structural firefighters performed a maximal isometric HGS assessment with and without gloves before and immediately following completion of a simulated fireground test (SFGT). A general linear model with written contrasts was used to identify significant differences in HGS between conditions. Pearson Product Moment Correlations were used to describe bivariate relationships. Significance was set at p≥0.27). These findings suggest that the use of regulation fire gloves and the presence of fatigue reduces maximal handgrip force production capabilities. Practitioners are encouraged to utilize training strategies to optimize HGS among structural firefighters.

OCLC Number

1368012328

Research Data and Supplementary Material

No

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