Feasibility of a Train-the-Trainer Delivered Exercise Intervention in Firefighters

Feasibility of a Train-the-Trainer Delivered Exercise Intervention in Firefighters

Purpose: To collect and report feasibility data for conducting a future cluster randomized trial to evaluate the efficacy of a TRAINER delivered integrated exercise program in career firefighters, and to determine intervention fidelity and preliminary effects of a TRAINER delivered integrated exercise program in career firefighters.

Participants: 52 career firefighters 18 - 60 years old (40 trainees, 6 trainers, 6 administrators).

Procedures (methods): Enrolled fire stations will be randomly assigned (3:2 allocation ratio) to a TRAINER or wait-list control (CON) group, stratified by city, using computer-generated random numbers. All enrolled firefighters will undergo a series of assessments at baseline (week 0) and post-testing (week 7) following the TRAINER delivered 6-week intervention.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Provide informed consent prior to any study procedures are performed
• Medically cleared for fire suppression duties
• A career firefighter from a local department (Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Durham)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Highly active firefighters, defined as performing 4 or more days/week of vigorous exercise
• Pregnancy
• Recent injury preventing their participation in the exercise routine
• Involved in an active workers' compensation or personal injury case