Body Water Distribution and Phase Angle Are Differentially Related to Anaerobic Performance by Occupational Status in Firefighters: A Cross-Sectional Study.
- 1Tactical Performance Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA.
- 2Department of Sport Science and Physical Education, Huntingdon College, Montgomery, AL 36106, USA.
- 3Body Composition Assessment Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA.
Abstract
Background: Bioimpedance-derived phase angle (PhA) and body water distribution may reflect cellular hydration and tissue quality, but their relevance to anaerobic performance in firefighters is unclear. Objectives: To compare these indices between firefighter recruits and incumbents and determine whether their relationships with anaerobic performance differed by occupational status. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included recruits (n = 125) and incumbents (n = 71). Groups were compared for participant characteristics, bioimpedance variables, and Wingate performance. Pearson correlations and hierarchical regression tested relationships with relative peak (RelPP) and mean power (RelMP), including group × predictor interactions adjusted for fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM). Significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Incumbents were older (38.89 ± 9.68 vs. 22.18 ± 4.47 years), heavier (95.14 ± 14.05 vs. 86.77 ± 13.72 kg), and had greater FM than recruits (p < 0.001). Recruits had higher RelPP and RelMP (p < 0.001), while body water distribution and PhA did not differ. In incumbents, intracellular water/total body water (ICW/TBW) and PhA were positively correlated with RelPP and RelMP, whereas extracellular water/total body water (ECW/TBW) was inversely correlated; these correlations were largely absent in recruits. After adjustment for FM and FFM, group × predictor interactions were observed for RelPP for PhA, ICW/TBW, ECW/TBW, and intracellular water/extracellular water (ICW/ECW) (p = 0.004-0.008), but not RelMP; these associations should be interpreted with caution given the number of comparisons examined. RelPP interactions remained significant after additional adjustment for age (p = 0.022-0.041). Conclusions: Despite similar body water distribution and PhA, recruits and incumbents differed in age, body mass, FM, and relative anaerobic performance. Occupational status appeared to moderate the relationships of these bioimpedance-derived indices with RelPP after adjustment for FM and FFM, with stronger relationships among incumbents.
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BibTeX
@article{adams2026body,
title = {{Body Water Distribution and Phase Angle Are Differentially Related to Anaerobic Performance by Occupational Status in Firefighters: A Cross-Sectional Study.}},
author = {Tiffany L Adams and Michael R Esco and Andrew T LeMense and Samuel O Gomez and Michael V Fedewa and Changki Kim and Lee J Winchester},
journal = {Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/jfmk11040403},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42924682},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Body Water Distribution and Phase Angle Are Differentially Related to Anaerobic Performance by Occupational Status in Firefighters: A Cross-Sectional Study.
AU - Tiffany L Adams
AU - Michael R Esco
AU - Andrew T LeMense
AU - Samuel O Gomez
AU - Michael V Fedewa
AU - Changki Kim
AU - Lee J Winchester
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/03
JO - Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology
DO - 10.3390/jfmk11040403
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42924682
AB - Background: Bioimpedance-derived phase angle (PhA) and body water distribution may reflect cellular hydration and tissue quality, but their relevance to anaerobic performance in firefighters is unclear. Objectives: To compare these indices between firefighter recruits and incumbents and determine whether their relationships with anaerobic performance differed by occupational status. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included recruits (n = 125) and incumbents (n = 71). Groups were compared for participant characteristics, bioimpedance variables, and Wingate performance. Pearson correlations and hierarchical regression tested relationships with relative peak (RelPP) and mean power (RelMP), including group × predictor interactions adjusted for fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM). Significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Incumbents were older (38.89 ± 9.68 vs. 22.18 ± 4.47 years), heavier (95.14 ± 14.05 vs. 86.77 ± 13.72 kg), and had greater FM than recruits (p < 0.001). Recruits had higher RelPP and RelMP (p < 0.001), while body water distribution and PhA did not differ. In incumbents, intracellular water/total body water (ICW/TBW) and PhA were positively correlated with RelPP and RelMP, whereas extracellular water/total body water (ECW/TBW) was inversely correlated; these correlations were largely absent in recruits. After adjustment for FM and FFM, group × predictor interactions were observed for RelPP for PhA, ICW/TBW, ECW/TBW, and intracellular water/extracellular water (ICW/ECW) (p = 0.004-0.008), but not RelMP; these associations should be interpreted with caution given the number of comparisons examined. RelPP interactions remained significant after additional adjustment for age (p = 0.022-0.041). Conclusions: Despite similar body water distribution and PhA, recruits and incumbents differed in age, body mass, FM, and relative anaerobic performance. Occupational status appeared to moderate the relationships of these bioimpedance-derived indices with RelPP after adjustment for FM and FFM, with stronger relationships among incumbents.
SN - 2411-5142
ER -