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. 2022 Sep 21;19(19):11946. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191911946

Table 7.

The correlation between physical fitness and individual task performance.

Outcome No. of Studies No. of Participants R (95% CI) Z Score p (Overall Effect) Heterogeneity I2; Cohen’s Q; p-Value Egger’s test
Intercept (95%CI); p 		Begg’s Test
(τ; p)
Cardiorespiratory fitness
Stair climb 4 351 −0.421 (−0.639 to −0.140 −2.856 0.004 ** 82.9%; 17.55;<0.001 4.39 (−4.24 to 13.03); 0.159 0.33; 0.497
  Sequential testing 3 302 −0.451 (−0.702 to −0.100) −2.472 0.013 * 85.4%; 13.69; 0.001 −8.39 (−254.21 to 237.44); 0.739 −0.33; 0.602
  Weight of PPE 3 309 −0.513 (−0.680 to −0.296) −4.244 <0.001 ** 70.7%; 6.81; 0.033 3.13 (−23.58 to 29.83); 0.377 0.33; 0.602
  Full-time only 2 91 −0.214 (−0.406 to −0.005) −2.007 0.045 * 5.8%; 1.06; 0.303 17.68 (--); <0.001 1.00; 0.317
Hose drag 3 180 −0.197 (−0.376 to −0.004) −1.997 0.046 * 38.1%; 3.23; 0.198 3.64 (−55.99 to 63.26); 0.580 1.00; 0.117
      Five or more and Sequential 2 131 −0.138 (−0.415 to 0.163) −0.897 0.370 61.9%; 2.62; 0.105 5.98 (--); <0.001 1.00; 0.317
      Weight of PPE 2 138 −0.278 (−0.427 to −0.114) −3.279 0.001 ** 0.0%; 0.04; 0.839 0.93 (--); <0.001 −1.00; 0.317
Victim drag 4 391 −0.356 (−0.500 to −0.194) −4.146 <0.001 ** 57.1; 6.99; 0.072 2.09 (−6.87 to 11.05); 0.421 0.33; 0.497
      Five or more tasks 2 127 −0.384 (−0.525 to −0.223) −4.450 <0.001 0.0%; 0.69; 0.406 −2.72 (--); <0.001 −1.00; 0.317
      Sequential tasks 3 169 −0.300 (−0.504 to −0.066) −2.488 0.013 * 55.6%; 4.50; 0.105 0.88 (−73.51 to 75.27); 0.905 −0.33; 0.602
      Males only 2 131 −0.220 (−0.482 to 0.079) −1.449 0.147 61.6%; 2.60; 0.107 5.95 (--); <0.001 1.00; 0.317
      Weight of PPE 2 260 −0.452 (−0.544 to −0.349) −7.757 <0.001 ** 0.0%; 0.05; 0.817 −4.41 (--); <0.001 −1.00; 0.317
      Full-time only 3 353 −0.320 (−0.501 to −0.113) −2.977 0.003 ** 69.3%; 6.61; 0.039 4.37 (−6.36 to 15.14); 0.122 1.00; 0.117
Saw hold 2 80 0.301 (−0.601 to 0.074) −1.580 0.114 64.8%; 2.84; 0.092 −44.09 (--); <0.001 −1.00; 0.317
Upper body endurance
Stair climb 3 205 −0.408 (−0.518 to −0.285) −6.061 <0.001 ** 0.0%; 1.28; 0.527 3.93 (−9.22 to 17.07); 0.164 1.00; 0.1172
      Weight of PPE 2 163 −0.436 (−0.553 to −0.301) −5.850 <0.001 ** 0.0%; 0.37; 0.541 7.13 (--); <0.001 1.00; 0.3173
Hose drag 4 294 −0.290 (−0.393 to −0.180) −5.010 <0.001 ** 0.0%; 0.56; 0.905 −2.15 (−6.03 to 1.72); 0.139 −0.33; 0.497
      Weight of PPE 2 205 −0.290 (−0.413 to −0.157) −4.183 <0.001 ** 0.0%; 0.56; 0.754 0.78 (--); <0.001 1.00; 0.317
      Full-time only 3 163 −0.266 (−0.404 to −0.115) −3.410 0.001 ** 0.0%; 0.00; 0.947 −2.48 (−15.86 to 10.89); 0.256 −0.33; 0.602
Victim rescue 4 294 −0.200 (−0.363 to −0.025) −2.23 0.026 * 55.2%; 6.69; 0.083 4.01 (−19.23 to 27.24); 0.536 0.67; 0.174
      Weight of PPE 2 163 −0.197 (−0.537 to 0.197) −0.980 0.327 84.5%; 6.44; 0.011 29.60 (--); <0.001 1.00; 0.317
      Full-time only 3 205 −0.183 (−0.420 to 0.077) −1.383 0.167 69.9; 6.63; 0.036 4.30 (−99.57 to 108.17); 0.692 0.33; 0.602
Forcible entry 3 252 −0.247 (−0.407 to −0.072) −2.743 0.006 ** 51.1%; 4.09; 0.129 21.43 (−25.53 to 68.39); 0.109 1.00; 0.117
      Weight of PPE and full-time 2 163 −0.220 (−0.488 to 0.086) −1.411 0.158 74.3%; 3.88; 0.049 22.98 (--); <0.001 1.00; 0.317
Abdominal endurance
Stair climb 5 262 −0.415 (−0.512 to −0.306) −6.933 <0.001 ** 25.7%; 5.38; 0.250 1.51 (−5.21 to 8.22); 0.526 0.00; 1.00
      Five or more tasks and sequential 3 200 −0.472 (−0.574 to −0.354) −7.079 <0.001 ** 0.0%; 1.12; 0.572 −3.07 (−21.12 to 14.99); 0.276 −1.00; 0.117
      Full-time Males firefighters 3 224 −0.388 (−0.496 to −0.268) −5.962 <0.001 ** 22.8%; 3.88; 0.274 2.53 (−5.17 to 10.23); 0.293 0.33; 0.497
      Weight of PPE 4 220 −0.452 (−0.554 to −0.338) −7.035 <0.001 ** 0.0%; 2.52; 0.473 4.73 (−49.98 to 59.44); 0.470 0.33; 0.602
Hose drag 5 313 −0.230 (−0.334 to −0.120) −4.034 <0.001 ** 17.3%; 4.83; 0.305 2.61 (−2.40 to 7.62); 0.196 0.40; 0.327
      Five or more tasks 3 251 −0.253 (−0.367 to −0.132) −4.029 <0.001 ** 0.0%; 1.05; 1.000 −5.72 (−116.29 to 104.85); 0.629 −0.33; 0.602
      Sequential tasks 4 293 −0.256 (−0.361 to −0.143) −4.381 <0.001 ** 0.0%; 1.06; 0.786 −0.92 (−10.99 to 9.14); 0.732 0.00; 1.00
      Weight of PPE 2 182 −0.157 (−0.367 to 0.068) −1.374 0.169 48.8%; 3.91; 0.142 3.11 (25.36 to 31.59); 0.397 0.33; 0.602
      Full-time firefighters 4 224 −0.201 (−0.326 to −0.069) −2.961 0.003 ** 27.9%; 4.16; 0.245 2.41 (−6.16 to 10.97); 0.350 0.33; 0.497
Victim drag 6 351 −0.151 (−0.290 to −0.006) −2.044 0.041 * 41.4%; 8.52; 0.129 1.01 (−5.24 to 7.27); 0.677 0.33; 0348
      Five or more Tasks 4 289 −0.189 (−0.342 to −0.027) −2.276 0.023 46.6%; 5.62; 0.132 −3.96 (−21.81 to 13.89); 0.441 0.00; 1.00
      Sequential tasks 5 331 −0.176 (−0.281 to −0.068) −3.165 0.002 ** 29.1%; 5.64; 0.228 −2.37 (−11.97 to 7.22); 0.489 0.00; 1.00
      Males only 4 271 −0.113 (−0.231 to 0.008) −1.834 0.067 34.3%; 4.57; 0.206 3.33 (-.345 to 10.12); 0.169 1.00; 0.042
      Weight of PPE 4 220 −0.137 (−0.366 to 0.108) −1.098 0.272 64.7%; 8.50; 0.037 1.16 (−14.11 to 16.44) 0.33; 0.497
      Full-time 4 224 −0.0845 (−0.248 to 0.084) −0.984 0.325 30.4%; 4.31; 0.230 2.58 (−5.77 to 10.93); 0.315 0.67; 0.174
Forcible entry 3 251 −0.195 (−0.313 to −0.072) −3.081 0.002 ** 0.0%; 1.39; 0.499 11.35 (−35.85 to 58.56); 0.201 0.33; 0.602
      Weight of PPE 2 162 −0.160 (−0.308 to −0.004) −2.012 0.044 * 0.0%; 0.79; 0.374 9.78 (--); <0.001 1.00; 0.317
Equipment hoist 2 111 −0.168 (−0.400 to 0.167) −0.844 0.399 37.1%; 1.59; 0.207 2.48 (--); <0.001 1.00; 0.317
Saw hold 2 80 0.252 (−0.300 to −0.677) −0.891 0.373 83.8%; 6.17; 0.013 64.96 (--); <0.001 1.00; 0.317
Grip strength
Stair climb 6 312 −0.200 (−0.502 to 0.071) −1.510 0.131 85.5%; 34.49;<0.0001 −2.29 (−15.69 to 11.10); 0.348 −0.33; 0.348
Hose drag 5 274 −0.378 (−0.589 to −0.119) −2.806 0.005 ** 78.9%; 19.00;<0.001 −3.97 (−16.26 to 8.33); 0.379 0.00; 1.00
      Five or more tasks 2 163 −0.325 (−0.496 to −0.129) −3.188 0.001 ** 42.5%; 1.74; 0.188 15.38 (--); <0.001 1.00; 0.317
      Males only 4 225 −0.429 (−0.668 to −0.108) −2.566 0.010 * 83.3%; 17.92; <0.001 −3.69 (−24.39 to 17.01); 0.524 0.00; 1.00
      Weight of PPE 4 232 −0.442 (−0.666 to −0.145) −2.834 0.005 ** 81.8%; 16.45;<0.001 −5.37 (−21.79 to 11.06); 0.295 −0.33; 0.497
Victim rescue 5 263 −0.578 (−0.713 to −0.402) −5.545 <0.001 ** 68.2%; 12.56; 0.014 −2.11 (−12.47 to 8.25); 0.563 −0.40; 0.327
      Five or more tasks 3 201 −0.610 (−0.773 to −0.372) −4.366 <0.001 ** 78.8%; 9.43; 0.009 −6.89 (−95.23 to 81.44); 0.503 −0.33; 0.602
      Sequential tasks 4 243 −0.561 (−0.716 to −0.353) −4.697 <0.001 ** 74.7%; 11.84; 0.008 −2.44 (−29.09 to 24.22); 0.732 −0.33; 0.497
      Full-time male firefighters 4 225 −0.507 (−0.600 to −0.401) −8.152 <0.001 ** 35.5; 4.65; 0.199 −0.51 (−12.29 to 11.27); 0.869 0.00; 1.00
      Weight of PPE 4 221 −0.621 (−0.758 to −0.432) −5.388 <0.001 ** 69.6%; 9.86; 0.019 −3.07 (−17.08 to 10.93); 0.445 −0.33; 0.497
Forcible entry 2 163 −0.426 (−0.623 to −0.179) −3.248 0.001 ** 67.2; 3.05; 0.081 20.36 (--); <0.001 1.00; 0.317
Equipment hoist 2 111 −0.420 (−0.703 to −0.023) −2.066 0.039 * 64.8%; 2.84; 0.092 3.29 (--); <0.001 1.00; 0.317
Saw hold 2 80 0.468 (−0.0836 to 0.800) 1.682 0.093 85.1%; 6.70; 0.009 67.71 (--); <0.001 1.00; 0.317
Upper body strength
Stair climb 3 134 −0.140 (−0.306 to 0.035) −1.571 0.116 0.0%; 1.45; 0.484 −2.33 (−17.66 to 12.99); 0.304 −1.00; 0.117
Hose drag 3 134 −0.544 (−0.748 to −0.247) −3.337 0.001 ** 71.9%; 7.11; 0.029 −5.71 (19.89 to 8.48); 0.123 −1.00; 0.117
      Five or more tasks 2 114 −0.402 (−0.547 to −0.233) −4.421 <0.001 ** 0.0%; 0.45; 0.502 −3.38 (--); <0.001 −1.00; 0.317
      Weight of PPE 2 92 −0.609 (−0.888 to −0.002) −1.966 0.049 * 85.9%; 7.10; 0.008 −5.91 (--); <0.001 −1.00; 0.317
Victim rescue 3 134 −0.350 (−0.573 to −0.080) −2.512 0.012 * 56.1%; 4.55; 0.103 −3.10 (−47,24 to 41.04); 0.536 −0.33; 0.602
      Five or more tasks 2 114 −0.255 (−0.422 to −0.073) −2.715 0.007 ** 0.0%; 0.67; 0.412 4.13 (--); <0.001 1.00; 0.317
      Weight of PPE 2 92 −0.461 (−0.733 to −0.064) −2.248 0.025 * 64.6%; 2.82; 0.093 −3.72 (--); <0.001 −1.00; 0.317
Lower body strength
Stair climb 5 329 −0.0460 (−0.155 to 0.064) −0.817 0.414 0.0%; 1.54; 0.819 −0.64 (−3.45 to 2.17); 0.522 −0.20; 0.624
Hose drag 4 179 −0.244 (−0.381 to −0.097) −3.223 0.001 ** 0.0%; 1.72; 0.632 −1.92 (−8.87 to 5.03); 0.357 0.00; 1.00
      five or more tasks 2 110 −0.222 (−0.395 to −0.033) −2.298 0022 * 0.0%; 0.29; 0.591 2.71 (--); <0.001 1.00; 0.317
      Weight of PPE 3 137 −0.271 (−0.422 to −0.104) −3.139 0.002 ** 0.0%; 1.29; 0.525 −2.19 (−20.28 to 15.90); 0.367 −0.33; 0.602
Victim rescue 3 130 −0.254 (−0.411 to −0.081) −2.851 0.004 ** 0.0%; 0.29; 0.862 −0.93 (−11.45 to 9.60); 0.462 −0.33; 0.602
      five or more tasks 2 110 −0.246 (−0.416 to −0.059) −2.559 0.010 * 0.0%; 0.25; 0.619 −2.79 (--); <0.001 −1.00; 0.317
      Weight of PPE 2 88 −0.229 (−0.422 to −0.017) −2.111 0.035 * 0.0%; 0.13; 0.724 −0.81 (--); <0.001 −1.00; 0.317
Flexibility
Stair climb 2 133 −0.190 (−0.351 to −0.019) −1.959 0.030 * 11.4%; 1.13; 0.288 3.82 (--); <0.001 1.00; 0.317
Hose drag 3 222 −0.130 (−0.259 to 0.004) −1.908 0.056 0.0%; 0.94; 0.626 −2.55 (−28.08 to 22.98); 0.425 −1.00; 0.012
Victim rescue 3 222 −0.0792 (−0.210 to 0.055) −1.159 0.247 0.0%; 1.67; 0.434 −4.09 (−22.07 to 13.89); 0.212 −1.00; 0.117
Forcible entry 2 180 −0.0700 (−0.215 to 0.078) −0.924 0.355 0.0%; 0.66; 0.418 99.59 (--); <0.001 1.00; 0.317

Note: * indicates statistical significance <0.05; ** indicates statistical significance <0.01. (--)—indicates insufficient studies to calculate Egger’s test result. PPE—personal protective equipment.; italics—indicates subgroup analysis.