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Influence of ambient temperature on the control of body posture stability in professional firefighters

Dolibog Patrycja, Dolibog Paweł, Biel Tomasz, Pietrzyk Barbara

Zeszyty Naukowe SGSP / Szkoła Główna Służby Pożarniczej

2024

Nr 92 (tom 1)

179--192

Introduction. Stability of body posture is essential for ensuring safety and achieving high physical performance. Firefighting, as a high-risk occupation, exposes professionals to factors that destabilize balance and posture, increasing the risk of falls and injuries. Extreme thermal environments are known to affect postural stability, which relies on dynamic neuromuscular control influenced by vision, body temperature, and psychophysiological state. Objective. This study aims to assess the influence of ambient temperature on the control of body posture stability among professional firefighters. Specifically, it examines the role of visual control in balance maintenance and explores coordination between the nervous and musculoskeletal systems using posturographic measurements from a force plate (AccuGait). Additionally, the study investigates the relationships between posturographic parameters, heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV) and body temperature. The impact of extreme thermal conditions – temperatures exceeding 35°C and falling below 0°C – on balance maintenance, dizziness, and balance disorders is also analysed. Material and Methods. Seventeen healthy male volunteers (mean age 35.9 ± 6.1 years, mean work experience 10.7 ± 5.5 years) were involved in the study. In the first phase, participants completed a survey containing general and detailed questions. They responded with “YES” or “NO” regarding their exposure to high temperatures (above 35°C) and low temperatures (below 0°C). In the second phase, measurements were taken using the AccuGait force plate (AMTI, USA). Each participant performed two 30-second trials. The first trial involved standing still on the force plate with open eyes (OE) and closed eyes (CE). Heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) were monitored using a Polar H7 heart rate monitor and the EliteHRV application. Additionally, infrared photos of all participants were taken using a FLIR C3X Compact thermal camera. Results. The study revealed that 89.7% of respondents reported experiencing dizziness during exposure to high temperatures. Force plate testing confirmed excellent postural stability among firefighters in both open-eye (OE) and closed-eye (CE) trials. In the CE trial, an 18.9% increase in the average COP velocity (Avg Velocity) and a 19.3% increase in COP path length (Length) were observed. The average heart rate (HR) for the 17 participants was 79.9 ± 15 beats per minute. A correlation was identified between HR and the average COP velocity, COP path length, and the minimal COP deviation along the Y-axis (AP). The average heart rate variability (HRV) was 56.4 ± 8.8 ms, and HRV correlated with the maximum COP value on the Y-axis (AP) during the CE trial. The average corneal temperature was 34.4 ± 1.5°C. Statistical analysis was conducted using Spearman’s rank correlation and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Conclusions. The risk of balance disturbances is higher when firefighters operate in high temperaturę environments (above 35°C) as compared to low temperatures (below 0°C). The absence of visual control does not compromise the stability of firefighters’ posture, reflecting their exceptional neuromuscular coordination. The dynamics of muscle force activation in maintaining body balance are influenced by visual control status and heart rate.