Tactical Athlete Care Clinic For First Responders
General Health & Wellness Orthopedics
October 17, 2023
When someone says the word "athlete," public safety officials such as first responders and military personnel don't normally come to mind. However, because of the strenuous physical demands of their jobs, they are considered "tactical athletes," and they often suffer injuries and ailments commonly faced by "traditional athletes."
At the Tactical Athletic Care Clinic (TACC) in Lafayette, Indiana, these individuals receive the medical care they need, which is often very similar to that of the traditional athlete.
“Our program began three years ago when we partnered with the city of West Lafayette to bring athletic trainers to the police and fire departments in West Lafayette,” said Craig Voll, PhD, PT, athletic trainer with Franciscan Health Lafayette East. “At the end of this two-year program, we would reevaluate and see if the police and fire department chiefs saw value in what we were able to provide.”In addition to being three times more likely to suffer from work-related injuries, public safety officials, such as police officers, are at a greater risk of musculoskeletal injury compared to those in other occupations. They also struggle to recover from those injuries because of the physical demand of their jobs and it can take twice as long to return to work after sustaining such injuries. Seeing the need for specialized medical care for our tactical athletes, including police officers and firefighters, the Sports Medicine department at Franciscan Health Lafayette East initiated the TACC in 2019 to improve the quality of life of those who selflessly serve the Greater Lafayette community.
“What we have found is the stress of the jobs and the other components of being a first responder are the tactical athletic program not only focuses on orthopedic issues but also the quality of life measures,” Voll said. “So we’re looking at areas including BMI, body fat percentage and blood pressure. We want to be able to care for those who are taking care of us.”
"To have a health professional in your building or immediately available to you is invaluable," said Adam S. Miller, sergeant of patrol with the West Lafayette Police Department. "Law enforcement officers don't always like to admit they need help, but having a face and person you are familiar with greatly helps to break down this barrier so officers can get the help they need."
The TACC currently serves the West Lafayette Police and Fire departments in addition to the hospital security staff at Franciscan Health Lafayette. The care of these tactical athletes is coordinated by athletic trainers (ATs) of the Franciscan Health Sports Medicine department. While ATs usually work in sport-related settings, such as high schools and colleges, their skillset is versatile and helpful to anyone who regularly completes physically demanding tasks. ATs are particularly qualified to provide health care to tactical athletes due to specialized training in musculoskeletal injury prevention, recognition, evaluation and treatment.
ATs are regulated by state legislature and require a professional level degree, successfully passing a nationally certifying board examination and obtaining licensure from the state of Indiana. All ATs providing care at the TACC have received preparation and credentialing far beyond these minimum requirements. They do this through post-professional training at the masters' or doctoral level in areas related to the most recent and evidence-based concepts in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. This way, the Tactical Athletic Care Clinic ensures that our tactical athletes are receiving high-quality care.
In addition to evaluating and rehabilitating acute and chronic musculoskeletal health conditions, ATs at the Tactical Athletic Care Clinic specifically work to minimize and help with injuries or illnesses that may occur on or off the job through early detection of risk factors. Annually, the program offers a comprehensive screening that involves general health assessments, movement testing (testing of function, mobility, strength, power and balance) and additional assessments for mental health and sleep hygiene.
“One thing that has been really valuable for me is doing ride-alongs,” said Emily Gusew, athletic trainer with Franciscan Health Lafayette. “It’s an opportunity for me to sit right in the vehicle or go along to whatever they might be going into and understand what the day-to-day looks like on the job. With this method, I can specify some treatment and care that might help somebody in those areas I might not have known before the ride-along.”
The holistic screening process allows the clinicians to identify areas of concern that can be addressed to prevent future problems. Trainers work with patients to create personalized short- and long-term health goals, providing education and motivation for achieving long-term health and wellness.
The Tactical Athletic Care Clinic athletic trainers also help patients to transition to other health care providers smoothly if patients have issues arise that fall outside the scope of athletic training practice.
“While athletic trainers are not mental health experts, for example, we can still make referrals,” Voll said. “Being able to identify when somebody is having an issue and getting them to the proper referral source is crucial.”
"TACC benefits me by having the peace of mind to go to professionals when health questions arise," Miller said. "The improvement that I have seen is I am overall healthier and feel better," said Miller. "I did not know what I didn't know, but since going to them, I am sleeping better, have fewer common aches and pains and have more accountability with my health."
For more information about the Franciscan Health Tactical Athlete Care Clinic in Lafayette, call (765) 420-5800.
