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“Tactical athlete” is a newer term making headway in the field of strength and conditioning and sports medicine.  We all understand what an athlete is in a traditional sports sense, but who does a tactical athlete refer to?  Men and women involved in various public safety or military jobs fall under the designation of the tactical athlete.  Those serving in the military, law enforcement, fire and rescue, and other public safety positions have days filled with physical tasks, physical training, and they must maintain high levels of physical fitness to perform their jobs. Tactical athletes share similarities with traditional athletes, but differ in their frequent engagement in unplanned bouts of high intensity physical activity, varied work hours, use of heavy gear, and exposure to various environmental hazards and potential life or death situations.

With most of the performance training and sports medicine methods having been developed around the model of a traditional athlete, the recognition of the tactical athlete beckons the need for an alternate design.  Programming for performance must consider not only the job demands that tactical athletes must meet, but also what they are subject to on a weekly basis.  There may be exposure to high levels of stress and long work hours with minimal time for sleep and recovery, all the while preparing for the unknown job task that may be looming in the near future.  Depending on the tactical population, every day has the potential to be “game day,” as opposed to the schedules of traditional athletes, who have the luxury of scheduled seasons.

This variability does not mean that the tactical athlete cannot improve his or her fitness and performance; however, a different avenue to the same goal must be taken.  A combined performance and sports medicine/wellness approach must be embraced with incorporation of recovery and corrective exercise into training routines.  Flexibility in program design should be considered and allowed in order to adjust to the uncharted possibilities of the current day or the next.  Job-like tasks may be incorporated, but performance training also provides time to expose the body to variability in movement and reduce the possibility of repetitive work-related physical stresses.

Tactical athletes serve our communities and are there to help when we need it the most.  Like other athletes a lifestyle focusing on their physical and mental preparation for their work performance must be of utmost importance for success at their duties and longevity of their careers.

By: Brad Dinklocker PT, DPT, LAT, ATC