A small group of firefighter candidates and serving firefighters in Spain climbed a weighted test staircase faster after four weeks of training. Their strength and some power measures also improved. The single peer-reviewed study had no control group, leaving practice with the test as an alternative contributor. Its staircase differed from the official examination tower, preventing direct comparisons with pass times.
A group preparing for firefighter work in Valencia, Spain, completed a weighted stair climb in an average 32.21 seconds after training, compared with 33.47 seconds beforehand. Both physical assessments were available for 17 participants. The estimated reduction of 1.26 seconds had confidence bounds of 0.52–2.00 seconds at the 95 per cent level. Without a control group, familiarization with the climb remains a possible contributor alongside training.[1]
The single peer-reviewed study began with 18 participants, comprising candidates and serving firefighters; 17 were men and one was a woman. Across four weeks they completed 16 sessions combining strength, power and endurance. High-load squat speed and power, estimated maximal strength and average cycling-test power increased. Aerobic capacity and body mass showed no significant change. The small group came from one training centre.[1]
Men climbed wearing vests weighing 25 kilograms, while the woman carried 20 kilograms. The experimental staircase rose 20 metres, compared with 18 metres in the official tower, and its geometry also differed. Absolute times therefore cannot be read against examination pass thresholds. Attention-task reactions became faster, while vigilance measures lacked comparable improvement. Those tasks were completed unsupervised at home, leaving practice effects relevant to their interpretation.[1]
