General Forums >> Ask a Firefighter >> What about physical demands???
What about physical demands???
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Posted 2 months ago Hello everyone, I am very eager to become a firefighter but I have some what of a little problem with my knee. How much running is involved in either academy or during work? Here's my situation, I've been running on and off since like junior high but lately my knee has been hurting when I run. I don't have a problem with heavy lifting, leg press up to 560lbs, and it doesn't hurt if I run stairs but just during straight running. How could this effect my career? |
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| Posted 2 months ago FF's with knee injuries are very common. Most of us spent a lot of time playing sports. If your able to do all that without a problem then your knee shouldn't bother you with firefighting either. Keep in mind though that we do spend time on our knees when we are searching a home, on the ground helping a patient, wierd positions that you may use your legs to support your body or their's. |
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| Posted 2 months ago I don't think knee problems should keep you from any aspect of firefighting. I have a bad left knee that hurts sometimes and I went to rehab for. I developed a problem with it when I was in the Marine Corps. I fell off of a 25 ft obstacle in the Corps. When I came back to firefighting I had little trouble but i think it's healed for now, until I mess it up again. I was doing a drill draging a downed Frefighter out of a building one time and It popped and I went down but It wasn't that bad just put some ice on it and I was fine. In firefighting you are quite often on your knees. The main thing is that you know what your capable of and what you can and can not do. Don't hurt yourself. Through my experience ther is not much running involved but there are times you have to sprint short distances. if you can leg press 560lbs then I think you will have no problem but i can't decide that for you. Go have it checked out and ask a doctor if you could perform firefighting task. "Hell, these are Marines. Men like them held Guadalcanal and took Iwo Jima. Bagdad ain't shit." "Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem." United States Marine Corps |
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| Posted 2 months ago I've had both ACL's reconstructed. My knees don't bother me at all during the annual physical ability test, or anytime during a call (draggin hose, equipment or lifting a patient) I just remember to be careful. I ran track/softball/ballet in college, and absolutely hate to run distace. I stay in touch with my orthapaedic Dr, and keep glucosamine & chondrotin in daily intake; minor pain and inflamation after workouts.....but hey, I'm not 19 anymore! |
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| Posted 2 months ago I think the most important thing is to know your own physical limits. Myself, I don't like 2nd story window bails on a ladder but will do them with a rope. I'm sure if it was life or death I would do what I had to do. Just know what you are able to do safely because you don't want to put yourself or others in harm's way. |