Survey study, 2025
Does fitness predict injury, mental health, and menstrual disruption in female emergency workers?
Several physical fitness measures predict future injury, depression, and burnout in female emergency workers and healthcare providers. Surprisingly, better lower body fitness was linked to future menstrual disruptions.
What they did
42 women (13 first-responders and 29 healthcare providers) completed a health questionnaire and a physical assessment measuring bone density, muscle strength, muscle endurance, muscle power, flexibility, and aerobic fitness. Six to seven months later, they completed another health questionnaire about injuries, depression, anxiety, burnout, and menstrual disruptions.
What they found
Higher bone density and relative upper body strength and lower body power predicted future injury. Better lower body endurance and flexibility were linked to future menstrual cycle disruptions. Low bone density was linked to future burnout and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire score of 10 or higher).
What it means for you
Physical fitness measures, especially bone density, may indicate future health risks in female emergency workers and healthcare providers. The counterintuitive finding that better lower body fitness was linked to menstrual disruptions needs further investigation. The study only followed women for 6-7 months and only in these specific occupations.
42
women studied
6-7 months
follow-up period
13
first-responders
About the study
- Original title
- Low physical fitness indicates future injury, mental health, menstrual cycle disruptions, and burnout in female emergency service personnel and healthcare providers
- Authors
- Edwards CM, Puranda JL, Miller É et al.
- Journal
- Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme
- Year
- 2025
- Study design
- Survey study
- What was tested
- None
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2024-0266