UEL research supporting London firefighters

Lee has also published on the issue in SCJ, the journal of the NSCA, identifying lower limb injuries to be the biggest issue in the fire brigade, with most slips, trips and falls from stair descent, working with Professor Kiros Karamanidis, an expert on slips trips and falls from London South Bank University and Joe Haynes and Richard Mitchell, from the London Fire Brigade. 

Lee added: “This is made worse by carrying asymmetrical loads, restrictive PPE and breathing apparatus, rigid boots, poorly lit and obstructed smoke-filled stairwells, and often carrying casualties. With this challenge they face, we have identified perturbation-based balance training (also known as reactive balance training) to increase proprioception and enable better stair descent ability, with training that will decrease injury risk and improve descent performance. 

“The other challenge faced is fatigue on stair ascent, with heavy kit being carried, and limited time on breathing apparatus (26 min on average), firefighters may need to ascend over 20 flights of stairs. Muscle tendon imbalances are often seen in individuals and more so that resistance train incorrectly. If the muscle becomes stronger than the tendon, the tendon will injure and often tear. We have outlined a specific way to train the tendon in combination with the muscle to decrease imbalances and improve tendon stiffness. A stiffer tendon will mean more efficient limb motion and energy conservation as tendons release stored force produced by the muscle. The added benefit is less heat produced by the muscle, and when in heated burning environments, this is an advantage.”

The article is detailed with a training programme that has already been distributed to the London Fire Brigade, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue with Mark Pearce, and Kent Fire and Rescue services. 

Lee has also started several research teams, collaborating with NSCA members, coach of the year award winner Scott Caufield, the Colorado Fire Dept, Jim MacDonald and ex ATF and DEA agent, Alexandra Cacioppo on investigating barriers between strength coaches and firefighters to help improve the language and delivery of fitness and wellbeing. He is also working with researchers from Texas AM university, Drew Gonzalez, on the role of creatine supplementation in tendon structure, performance, and rehabilitation. 

Lee's research also has lessons for everyone who plays sport or uses the gym. He commented: 

Resistance training with moderate loading (30-60% of the one rep max) that creates fatigue may improve muscular strength and growth; however, it does not sufficiently stimulate tendon adaptation. Training at intensities of 85–90% of isometric maximum voluntary contraction (iMVC) loading should be applied so optimal effectiveness in tendon stiffness training is gained.

Sporting and tactical populations are advised to hold the contraction at the point where the tendons are lengthened and held for three seconds, over four reps of five sets and a two-minute rest in between sets. This will effectively increase tendon stiffness and adaptation that will improve MTU balance and decrease risk of injury and improve performance and energy conservation. This is something that I truly wished I were told in my teens! When muscles get stronger and overtake tendon stiffness, injuries will occur. 

Lee Brown is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Health, Sport and Bioscience at the University of East London. His research focuses on strength and conditioning methodologies aimed at enhancing athletic performance and reducing injury risk, particularly within tactical populations such as fire services, the military, and police forces.