What are Fire Hydrant Exercises?
Fire hydrants are exercise equipment used to develop pectoral muscles. In most cases, water from a nearby hydrant or fire station is used, connected to a supply line that leads into the machine itself.
Somebody wishing to use the fire hydrant as fitness equipment would need to turn on the water and exercise however they see fit. There is some variation, however. Some models feature ropes attached to both handles, which can be pulled back and forth during an exercise routine, or pull-ups/chin-ups with one end attached to the top of the machine and the other end connected to the bottom as it “sinks.
Most models set at chest height allow users to sit under them with their legs extended outwards and use their hands to grasp either end of the device.
The water utilized for these machines typically comes directly from fire hydrants connected to water mains via a pipeline. The equipment does not connect to the hydrant but instead uses the pressurized water flowing through this pipeline as its source. Some gyms have used tanks filled with compressed air to make the machine function without access to any traditional water supply.
Many people utilize fire hydrant exercises as an alternative form of resistance training when no other weight-bearing equipment is available or wish for a different experience than what can usually be found at most fitness centers.
This is particularly true for Navy SEALS and other special forces operators who cannot utilize traditional weights during training due to space/movement restrictions.
Fire hydrant exercises can also be seen as a variation of push-ups. Many people exercise their chest muscles by performing regular push-ups under the fire hydrant device to increase or decrease intensity, often to take advantage of the increased resistance provided.
While there are no inherent risks involved in using this equipment, people looking to build strength should be aware that they may not necessarily receive all of the benefits of similar forms of weightlifting because water runs out much sooner than iron.
Some users have expressed concern about experiencing back pain from sitting underneath these machines for too long. However, the sheer difficulty of the exercise prevents this for most users.
Some gyms and fire departments have responded to this issue by making smaller versions of these machines on top of an average-sized table. The seated version is typically used to increase upper body strength via chin-ups or by placing hands on opposite ends of the device and “pulling” to simulate rowing motions. These machines are typically not self-supporting, requiring some support to hold their weight while exercising with them.
Fire hydrants can also be used as simple cardio equipment. After all, they assist in developing cardiovascular strength, specifically within the chest cavity, because people must build strength to push themselves against the sheer resistance of water continuously.
As with any exercise equipment, the specific effects will depend entirely upon how it is used by those who use it. However, there have been many positive results from doing exercises under a fire hydrant instead of relying solely on traditional weightlifting machines or using nothing.
The American Council on Exercise has stated that using these exercise machines can improve muscular endurance and cardiovascular capacity due to the increased resistance of pushing oneself against something more significant than one’s body weight, thus simulating modern-day forms of physical training for military personnel and others.
The ACE also stated that such workouts produce better fat-burning abilities than activities that rely solely on cardio-based exercises to provide a total-body workout.
Fire hydrants have been featured in several fiction pieces, such as Rocky and its sequels. They also make appearances in many other films and television shows. In addition, they can be seen outside various buildings or along sidewalks throughout North America, most often near fire stations but sometimes near hospitals or other public facilities.
A notable place where these machines do not exist is New York City, where people were taken by surprise after local firefighters went on strike and threatened to shut down multiple firehouses if their wage dispute was not resolved. Some citizens wondered what would happen should a fire break out, and the city’s emergency personnel were unavailable to stop it.
A spokesperson for the city’s fire department reported that hydrants would still be used to fight fires, just as before the strike, and this would not adversely affect efforts to stop blazes.
Fire hydrants are essential to physical fitness, mainly when used by military personnel. The United States Department of Defense has often placed fire hydrants near many of its complexes to offer alternative forms of physical training.