injuryprevention
Injury Prevention
Notes from a presentation by Jo Ellen Caldwell, Phoenix Fire Health Symposium
'If it ain't broke, why fix it?"
The Phoenix Fire Department is making changes in the way it conducts its Physical Fitness Test. Their Firefighters are pre screened and placed into different Tiers. If a FF is in Level 4, they are are given multi planer and functional tests vs. uni planer and linear tests. The goal is to develop targeted exercise routines to rehab deficiencies to prevent injuries.
They are identifying and mitigating effects of age and injury by improving body mechanics. Through these tests they assess core strength, balance, body mechanics during functional movements, and joint stability.
They have a Physical Therapist give 20 tests that mimic tasks that FF's do, day to day. These tests help find problems early. Through rehab exercises, they can rebuild weakened areas and help prolong a FF's career.