Levels of physical activity, physical fitness and their relationship in the Northern Ireland Health and Activity Survey.

The aim of the study was to describe the physical activity and physical fitness profile of the population of Northern Ireland and to explore the relationship between physical activity and physical fitness. This was a cross sectional population study using a two stage probability sample of the adult population of Northern Ireland (aged 16+). The main outcome measures were physical activity profile based on computer assisted interview. Physical fitness using estimation of VO2max by extrapolation from submaximal oxygen uptake while walking on a motor driven treadmill. We found that males were more vigorously active than females (M 21%:F 6%) with a steep gradient of decreasing activity with age: 49% (M 52%:F 46%) were regularly active up to at least moderate intensity. Males (mean predicted VO2max 44.4 mls/kg/min; 16-74 years) were fitter than females (mean predicted VO2max 34.0 mls/kg/min; 16-74 years) and while there was a decline in predicted VO2max with age, there was wide variation within each age category. There was no statistically significant relationship between current or past activity and fitness after adjustment for possible confounding factors, with the exception of a relationship between fitness and activity in males so that the difference between no activity and habitual vigorous activity in predicted VO2max was 4.4mls/kg/min (10.1%).

The health status of an ambulance service.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the current health status of male ambulance personnel based in Belfast, taking the opportunity to compare results with those from a comparable local survey of the general population. Risk factors for coronary heart disease were assessed. Ninety-three men were studied. Blood pressure values were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the present study than in a comparable local survey of the general population, with 23 per cent of systolic values being over 140 mmHg and 27 per cent of diastolic readings being over 90 mmHg. The incidence of self-reported smoking was also higher in the ambulance service (36 per cent) compared with the local population (31 per cent). Computation of body mass indices for ambulancemen showed that 52 per cent of personnel fell outside the acceptable range of 20-25 kg/m2 with 10 per cent being greater than 30 kg/m2, recognized as the threshold of clinical obesity. With regard to serum cholesterol, 52 per cent of personnel exceeded the desirable threshold of 5.2 mmol/l, while 18 per cent were above 6.4 mmol/l. In addition, the high density lipoprotein fraction was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the ambulancemen compared with the general population (mean +/- SEM: 1.10 +/- 0.3 vs 1.18 +/- 0.01, respectively). Although 54 per cent of the sample claimed to be physically active, only 35 per cent reportedly took sufficient exercise to be of benefit to their health. Cardiorespiratory fitness was significantly higher in this group. The ambulance service nationally remains the only emergency service without a strategy for health and fitness.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of a 10-week exercise intervention programme on exercise and work capacities in Belfast's ambulance-men.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the occupational benefits of an exercise intervention programme, including changes in physical working capacity and other physical fitness measures on a group of Belfast ambulancemen. Physical training was performed twice weekly for 10 weeks and consisted primarily of indoor soccer and circuit-training sessions. Both experimental (n = 8) and control subjects (n = 6) were assessed for height (HT), weight (WT), body composition (percentage fat), standing broad jump (SBJ), flexibility (Flex), and sit-up performance (SU). The experimental group was further assessed for blood pressure (BP), hand grip strength (HGS), maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max), end lactate concentration (EL), anaerobic threshold (AT) and leg strength (LS). Working capacity was also assessed during a staged emergency incident, using a portable telemetric gas analyser. Significant changes in the experimental group were found following training for Flex, SU, SBJ, VO2 max (all P < 0.05), EL and AT (P < 0.01). A significant drop in the metabolic cost of the simulated emergency incident was also noted following training. No significant differences were found for the control group over the experimental period. The present study indicated that a twice-weekly exercise intervention programme was effective in improving the physical fitness of Belfast's ambulancemen. Such a programme could prove cost-effective by increasing work capacity and decreasing absenteeism related to musculoskeletal injury.

Physical fitness and occupational demands of the Belfast ambulance service.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the current fitness of an area ambulance service based in Belfast and to quantify the physiological demands of accident and emergency work. From a total staff of 230, 105 (46%) volunteered to undergo a series of fitness tests subject to health state. Results based on body mass indices showed that 52% of subjects could be classified as overweight and 10% of subjects as obese. Fitness levels were similar to other comparable samples and showed the expected but not inevitable decrease with age. A simple work related task (walking at 6 km/h) performed in the laboratory showed that 54% of men over 40 years of age and 24% under 40 found it taxing. This would favour selection for accident and emergency work on the basis of functional capacity rather than chronological age. Accident and emergency work consisted of long periods of inactivity interspersed with shorter periods of relatively intense activity, often above the anaerobic threshold. Lactate concentrations measured during a staged emergency incident also suggested that personnel may work at intensities exceeding their anaerobic threshold. The incorporation of physical fitness standards in the ambulance service may be appropriate and consideration should be given to a reduced age of retirement.