Investigating the Use of Jump Assessments for Firefighters in the London Fire Brigade

Brown, L, Hastings, K, Caufield, S, Haynes, J, McClenaghan, P, and Lenetsky, S. Investigating the use of jump assessments for firefighters in the London Fire Brigade. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2025-Firefighters must possess requisite muscular strength, power, and endurance to perform operational tasks while handling external loads, such as door breakers and hose lines. When firefighters from the London Fire Brigade (LFB) pass the academy, they are assessed annually using either the Chester Walk Treadmill Test, 1.5-mile, or the bleep test. No strength or power assessments are regularly performed. Therefore, the primary purpose of this study was to identify the feasibility of introducing jump testing for strength and power assessments to be used in the annual fitness test. A total of 41 men (n = 38) and women (n = 3) were recruited (age: 38 ± 9 years; stature: 1.8 ± 0.04 m; mass: 86 ± 10.6), with a minimum of 1-year service. The squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), reactive strength index, and the 1.5-mile treadmill test were used to assess the subjects. Analysis revealed an inverse relationship between SJ, CMJ, and the treadmill run test, indicating that increased jump performance was related to faster run times, with a very large effect size. This study demonstrated that jump tests can be used as an additive to the graded treadmill walking-based test currently being used for annual fitness testing by the LFB.