On a hot June Saturday, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMUoHP) Doctor of Science (DSc) in Health Science students within the Human and Sport Performance track and RMUoHP faculty conducted research using innovative wearable technology to collect physiological variables. With the support of the Provo Fire Department, the doctoral students engaged in a timed obstacle course designed to simulate firefighting job-related tasks, hoping the research would provide more insight to allow exercise and sport scientists to develop better fitness programs and assess fitness for duty.
The DSc students, along with Dr. Hina Garg (Doctor of Physial Therapy program faculty), Dr. Mark Abel (DSc program faculty), and Dr. Robert Pettitt (Director of the Office of Research & Sponsored Projects at RMUoHP),used wearable technology, including a metabolic analyzer that captured oxygen consumption, a heart rate monitor, sensors that tracked joint motions, and global positioning devices (GPS) to evaluate the physiological data from the students who were participating in real time using Bluetooth technology to see the physiological impacts that can occur as a firefighter.
In addition to the wearable technology used to track physiologic changes, the DSc students who participated also had to wear 45-pound vests and fire helmets. Pettitt described the process, “The course began with students lifting a 45-pound firehouse and ascending a six-story dwelling. Within 30 to 40 seconds, students were eliciting heart rates of 180 to 190 beats per minute! The course continued hoisting a hose suspended from a rope up six stories. After the descent, a station was engaged requiring repetitive swinging of a sledgehammer followed by a brief jog around cone course dragging a pressurized fire hose. The course concluded with a 50-yard body drag. The maximal physiological measures were observed and confirmed with samples of blood lactate upon conclusion of the course.”
Having hands-on learning experiences like this help to solidify new and innovative types of learning that can occur outside of the typical classroom. Pettitt said, “I am aware of no [other] laboratory using the combination of wearable technology. Everyone acknowledges that such firefighting courses are challenging, but with this technology, we can answer how stressful such activities are on the body in the most realistic environment possible. Such information allows exercise and sports scientists to develop fitness programs to better and assess “fitness for duty” and, more specifically it can help firefighters better train for and be more prepared for multiple different situations which can be extremely strenuous on the body.”
Pettitt went on to describe the meaningful impact of this research, “The doctoral students in this course are nearing their dissertation phase and we opened up a world of opportunities for research and not limited to the occupation of firefighting. The addition of this technology will enable RMUoHP’s faculty to attract external funding that will assist research and provide financial support for students considering our residential research assistantship option. The data recorded from the demonstration helped students learn about the importance of this type of research and how it can help prevent and improve the quality of life for so many people, specifically for those who have physically strenuous careers. This experience also allowed RMUoHP students and faculty to dive into new and innovative types of research not only for the benefit of RMUoHP students and faculty, but also for the benefit of the surrounding community and healthcare as a whole.”
Any prospective or current student who may be interested in the residential research, should contact Dr. Pettitt at rpettitt@rm.edu for more information.
