June/July 2023 - 38

Strength & Conditioning
Tactical athletes need to efficiently move their
bodies in all three anatomical planes of human
movement. These anatomical planes include the
sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes, please see
tacticaltrainingandconditioning.com/article/trainingtactical-athletes/.
In order to be ready for optimal
performance in their jobs, athletic ability and agility can
be called upon these individuals at a moment's notice. If
a tactical athlete's body is not properly functioning like
a well-oiled machine then that deficiency may preclude
them from performing their best when called upon.
Dynamic stretches are one of the factors that play
into assisting the body in the three anatomical planes
through the movement of the body forward, backward,
side-to-side bending, reaching, twisting, and jumping.
As the athlete becomes more comfortable with the
aforementioned movements, they become more agile
and flexible and gain more balance.
EXAMPLES & EXPERIENCES
Pursuant to my 27 years of experience as a tactical
athlete, I have encountered the typical aches and pains
that are part of the territory when having an external
load on my body for eight, 10, 12 + hour shifts. Not only
does it slow your movement, but equally, it restricts your
movement. Nothing can be done to lighten the load of
your duty belt, Kevlar vest or tactical entry gear. The
body can be met with potential musculoskeletal injuries
through all the exertion, twisting, turning, running, and
jumping during a call. An officer, with a Kevlar vest and
additional gear, can have as little as 45 pounds on their
bodies for their shift which can be problematic for their
body. However, if you have a well-devised program
of dynamic stretching, and subsequently now you are
more flexible, mobile and agile, then those concerns
can be mediated somewhat by your ability to move or
function better for optimal job performance. These same
concerns can be alleviated for the soldier while in their
tactical gear on a mission or while on a ruck march. On a
ruck march, soldiers carry an external load of at least 37
pounds on a " Tactical PT Day. "
While on a mission or deployment, depending on the
requirements, the total weight can be quite significantly
higher. Once again, dynamic stretches will give the
soldier the benefits mentioned above but will specifically
aid them as the compressive forces of the external load of
the ruck on their posterior chain can be alleviated with a
strong, flexible, and limber lumbar and thoracic spine.
Lastly, the firefighter can carry an average of 45
pounds of basic gear on a call and can be higher
depending on what they choose to carry as extra
equipment. This gear, coupled with their utilization of
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38 | Training & Conditioning | June/July 2023
http://www.tacticaltrainingandconditioning.com/article/training http://www.colddaddy.com
June/July 2023

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