Effects of simulated firefighting on the responses of salivary cortisol, alpha-amylase and psychological variables

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a simulated firefighting intervention on salivary alpha-amylase (sA-A), free cortisol (sC), anxiety (STAI), and profile of mood states (POMS) in 20 male firefighters (age 32 ± 1 years, [Vdot]O 2peak : 43 ± 5 ml/kg per min). During the 12-min firefighting intervention (ambient temperature: 13 ± 1°C; relative humidity: 63 ± 1%), individuals spent 63 ± 28% of the time working at heart rate (HR) >85% of individual HR max , [La] peak 9.2 ± 2.9 mM and ratings of perceived exertion 16 ± 2. At 30 min post-intervention significant (p