A influência do cão de busca na resposta psicofisiológica do bombeiro militar, um design crossover

Abstract

The Fire Department employs dogs as support for search and rescue activities. Because they work directly and together, it is natural for the dog and the firefighter to be influenced by each other’s work and routine. While carrying out activities with the dog on a leash, firefighters report increased pain in the arms, forearms and back, in addition to suffering abrasions and cramps. Apparently, these harmful consequences are superior to firefighters who carry out the activity with the dog than without. The objective of this study was to verify the influence of the specific odor search dog on the psychophysiological and neuromuscular responses of the firefighter in the simulated search activity. The sample consisted of 10 firefighters who performed a simulated search activity, in two experimental conditions (with and without the dog), having measured anthropometric, psychometric and performance variables. In anthropometry, body mass. In turn, in the psychometric variables, tests of subjective perception of effort (PSE), pain and musculoskeletal discomfort and a report of the sum of the number of abrasions, falls, slips and trips (IMBALANCE) were performed, in addition to the verification and analysis of variables of physical performance such as: countermovement vertical jump height (SVCM), isometric force production and upper and lower limb muscle electromyographic activity, heart rate variability (HRV) and lactate concentration. With the exception of PSE and IMBALANCE, the other measurements were performed before and after the simulated activity. The operational activity was in pairs, with a firefighter driver and another firefighter accompanying. The accompanying firefighter stayed about 5 meters behind the lead firefighter and both followed the path determined by the dog. The victim to be found was about 2 km from the starting point of the firefighters, and the route had all the mandatory items for certification of a search dog. After a minimum interval of 72 hours, the firefighters changed the role of driver and escort and performed the same experimental procedures. The ANOVA for repeated measures was used for the variables: SVCM, Isometric Strength, HRV, Blood Lactate, Pain and Discomfort Questionnaire, the data analysis took into account the condition factors (Driver x Companion) and time (Pre x Post activity of search). When necessary, Bonferroni’s post hoc was used to identify differences between means. The T Test was used for the PSE and IMBALANCE variables, and the data analysis considered the factor (Driver x Companion), and time (Post). The significance level considered was p<0.05. The main results were the interactions (condition * time) for the Blood Lactate concentration, the Isometric handgrip strength of the directing hand, and for the level of pain and discomfort of the upper limbs. The No Dog condition caused higher lactate concentrations compared to the With Dog condition at post time (4.07 ± 0.82 vs 2.14 ± 1.04 mmol/L). In turn, the Isometric Strength of the directing hand in the Dog condition showed a greater performance drop (-12.3% vs +9.2%). Finally, there was a greater increase in the level of pain and discomfort in the upper limbs in the dog condition (+13.4% vs -0.7%). There was a main effect of time independent of the condition for the SVCM, which increased at the end of the activity. There was a time-independent main condition effect for Isometric Strength of the non-directing hand and level of trunk pain and general pain. These variables were higher in the dog condition. The other variables did not show significant differences. It is concluded that the use of the dog promotes localized changes in the firefighter’s upper limbs, reducing the level of isometric strength and increasing the level of pain and discomfort in this region. On the other hand, the Firefighter conductor presents a smaller increase in lactate concentration.