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
Diserahkan:
13 Mei 2015/Diterima: 4 Jun 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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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat;
email: nihayahmohammad@gmail.com
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