by James Henley, MS, and Mark Abel, PhD, CSCS,*D, TSAC-F,*D
TSAC Report
May 2026
Vol 81, Issue 2
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This article originally appeared in TSAC Report, the NSCA’s quarterly, online-only publication geared toward the training of tactical athletes, operators, and facilitators. It provides research-based articles, performance drills, and conditioning techniques for operational, tactical athletes. The TSAC Report is only available for NSCA Members. Read more articles from TSAC Report
Dennison, KJ, Mullineaux, DR, Yates, JW, and Abel, MG. The effect of fatigue and training status on firefighter performance. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 26(4): 1101-1109, 2012.
Frost, DM, Beach, TAC, Callaghan, JP, and McGill, SM. Exercise-based performance enhancement and injury prevention for firefighters: Contrasting the fitness- and movement-related adaptations to two training methodologies. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 29(9): 2441-2459, 2015.
Langford, EL, Bergstrom, HC, Lanham, S, Eastman, AQ, Best, S, Ma, X, et al. Evaluation of work efficiency in structural firefighters. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 37(12): 2457-2466, 2023.
Lockie, RG, Dulla, JM, Higuera, D, Ross, K, Orr, R, Dawes, J, et al. Age-related differences in body fat and fitness of firefighters participating in a health and wellness program. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 38(6): 1127-1135, 2024.
1. Agostinelli, PJ, Bordonie, NC, Robbins, AM, Jones, PL, Reagan, LF, Mobley, CB, et al. Impact of acute exercise on performance and physiological stress during simulated firefighter occupational tasks. Scientific Reports 14(1): 29778, 2024.
2. Chizewski, A, Box, A, Kesler, RM, and Petruzzello, SJ. High-intensity functional training (HIFT) improves fitness in recruit firefighters. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18(24): 13400, 2021.
3. Chizewski, A, Box, A, Kesler, RM, and Petruzzello, SJ. Fitness fights fires: Exploring the relationship between physical fitness and firefighter ability. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18(22): 11733, 2021.
4. Cornell, DJ, Gnacinski, SL, Meyer, BB, and Ebersole, KT. Changes in health and fitness in firefighter recruits: An observational cohort study. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 49(11): 2223-2233, 2017.
5. Dennison, KJ, Mullineaux, DR, Yates, JW, and Abel, MG. The effect of fatigue and training status on firefighter performance. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 26(4): 1101-1109, 2012.
6. Frost, DM, Beach, TAC, Callaghan, JP, and McGill, SM. Exercise-based performance enhancement and injury prevention for firefighters: Contrasting the fitness- and movement-related adaptations to two training methodologies. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 29(9): 2441-2459, 2015.
7. Gendron, P, Freiberger, E, Laurencelle, L, Trudeau, F, and Lajoie, C. Greater physical fitness is associated with better air ventilation efficiency in firefighters. Applied Ergonomics 47: 229-35, 2015.
8. Gnacinski, SL, Ebersole, KT, Cornell, DJ, Mims, J, Zamzow, A, and Meyer, BB. Firefighters’ cardiovascular health and fitness: An observation of adaptations that occur during firefighter training academies. Work 54(1): 43-50, 2016.
9. Hollerbach, BS, Jahnke, SA, Poston, WSC, Harms, CA, and Heinrich, KM. Examining a novel firefighter exercise training program on simulated fire ground test performance, cardiorespiratory endurance, and strength: A pilot investigation. Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology 14: 12, 2019.
10. Kim, J-B, Xiang, Y-Y, Kim, C-B, Seo, D, Song, W, Lee, H, et al. Improving cardiorespiratory and muscular function of Korean firefighters: A Kinect-based mixed reality device exercise intervention randomized control trial. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 66(2): 118-124, 2024.
11. Kirlin, LK, Nichols, JF, Rusk, K, Parker, RA, and Rauh, MJ. The effect of age on fitness among female firefighters. Occupational Medicine 67(7): 528-533, 2017.
12. Lan, FY, Yiannakou, I, Scheibler, C, Hershey, MS, Cabrera, JLR, Gaviola, GC, et al. The effects of fire academy training and probationary firefighter status on select basic health and fitness measurements. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 53(4): 740-748, 2021.
13. Langford, EL, Bergstrom, HC, Lanham, S, Eastman, AQ, Best, S, Ma, X, et al. Evaluation of work efficiency in structural firefighters. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 37(12): 2457-2466, 2023.
14. Leary, M, Thomas, J, Hayes, R, and Sherlock, L. Evaluation of an occupational exercise training program for firefighters: Mixed methods pilot study. JMIR Formative Research 4(9): e17835, 2020.
15. Lockie, RG, Dulla, JM, Higuera, D, Ross, K, Orr, R, Dawes, J, et al. Age-related differences in body fat and fitness of firefighters participating in a health and wellness program. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 38(6): 1127-1135, 2024.
16. Mang, ZA, Vigil, ED, and Beam, JR. Utilizing multimodal high-intensity interval training for a firefighter training academy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Work 75(4): 1153-1163, 2023.
17. Martin, J, Toczko, M, Sax van der Weyden, M, and Lockie, R. Effects of implementing a mandatory and consequential annual fitness assessment in a fire department over the initial 4-year period. Work 79(1): 155-165, 2024.
18. Martin, JR, Clark, NC, Newman, K, Fyock-Martin, M, and Abel, MG. The relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and firefighter occupational performance: A systematic review and meta-analysis examining absolute versus relative VO2max. Ergonomics 17: 1-18, 2025.
19. Martin, JR, Lockie, RG, Fyock-Martin, M, and Clark, NC. Physical fitness profile of a large urban fire department: Exploring age and rank dynamics. Work 79(4): 2059-2073, 2024.
20. Mason, MR, Heebner, NR, Abt, JP, Bergstrom, HC, Shapiro, R, Langford, EL, and Abel MG. The acute effect of high-intensity resistance training on subsequent firefighter performance. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 37(7): 1507-1514, 2023.
21. Mayer, JM, Quillen, WS, Verna, JL, Chen, R, Lunseth, P, and Dagenais, S. Impact of a supervised worksite exercise program on back and core muscular endurance in firefighters. American Journal of Health Promotion 29(3): 165-172, 2015.
22. Noh, K, Lee, K, Jamrasi, P, Zhang, Y, Park, S, Seo, D, et al. Physical fitness levels of South Korean national male and female firefighters. Journal of Exercise Science and Fitness 18(3): 109-114, 2020.
23. Park, S, Kwon, J, Noh, K, Lee, CG, Song, W, Park, J-J, et al. Relationship between shift type and voluntary exercise training in South Korean firefighters. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17(3): 728, 2020.
24. Pawlak, R, Clasey, JL, Palmer, T, Symons, TB, and Abel, MG. The effect of a novel tactical training program on physical fitness and occupational performance in firefighters. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 29(3): 578-588, 2015.
25. Peterson, MD, Dodd, DJ, Alvar, BA, Rhea, MR, and Favre, M. Undulation training for development of hierarchical fitness and improved firefighter job performance. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 22(5): 1683-1695, 2008.
26. Poplin, GS, Roe, DJ, Peate, W, Harris, RB, and Burgess, JL. The association of aerobic fitness with injuries in the fire service. American Journal of Epidemiology 179(2): 149-155, 2014.
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