Beyond treating and training Fire/LEO/Tactical Athletes at DeWitt PT and CrossFit UP for years, our Public Safety/Tactical Programs launched in 2022 with Santa Cruz City Fire Department and have extended to Pasadena Fire Department in 2024.

We believe the healthier and happier our public safety teams are, the stronger and safer our communities will be.

Below is an overview of testing, training and monitoring services we can provide and oversee. Each department will have unique needs and we are happy to develop a health and wellness program and tailor our offerings with your team.

Assessments

We offer a range of assessments designed to identify and mitigate injury risks while optimizing performance. Each assessment provides valuable insights into an individual’s movement, fitness and/or health needs along with an actionable plan created and facilitated by our team:

Movement Screening with Move2Perform: Includes a Functional Movement Screen (FMS) and Y-Balance tests, along with our DPT Tactical Movement Assessment, and a personalized corrective exercise program created by our physical therapists. Move2Perform Report includes injury risk assessment.

Force Plate Strength Assessment and Injury Risk Profile: Provides detailed insights into strength and power capacities and potential injury risks with safe and research-backed testing procedures.

PNOE Metabolic Testing: Includes resting and active metabolic rate measurements, VO2 Max testing, and spirometry for lung volume assessment, providing insights into heart and lung function both at rest and under exertion as well as exertional capacities useful in assessing readiness for work tasks supported by this research - which is a significant metric in resiliency in the firefighting demographic specifically. See PNOE testing in action here.

Sweat Testing: Evaluates hydration status and electrolyte balance with customized strategies to mitigate heat/exertion injuries.

Training Programs

We provide structured training programs to prepare recruits before and during academy and improve the fitness of your entire department through ongoing, centralized training programs:

Pre-Academy Training Program: A 10-week regimen designed to prepare recruits for the physical demands of fire academy.
Customized Academy Training Program: Aligns with Academy training evolutions and includes coach support for both recruits and training cadre by DPT Staff.

Ongoing K2 Performance Training Program for the entire Department: Our proprietary K2 Training Performance Training Program was developed by our team of performance coaches and physical therapists as a centralized and sponsored fitness solution to meet the health and fitness needs of firefighters and other public safety professionals. K2 is a remote fitness program with 5 days/week of workouts focusing on progressive and sustainable strength, cardiometabolic fitness and recovery. Hybrid, in-person options available locally at CrossFit UP. See K2 in action here.

Longitudinal Health and Wellness Monitoring and Coaching with Symmio

We have partnered with Symmio - a wellness app developed by Functional Movement Systems (creators of the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) - to provide an all-encompassing platform for tracking vital health metrics across high-performing organizations and is monitored by our team of physical therapists and performance coaches.

This app-based solution covers:

Each individual will be scored and tracked monthly in the above areas through self-guided questionnaires and coached on specific corrective movements and lifestyle behaviors delivered directly through the Symmio app to increase comprehensive health and wellness for each team member. As all team members will be monitored by our staff, we can provide specific supportive action in real time should any metric notably decrease in any wellness domain.

Support Services

Our commitment extends beyond training and assessments. We offer robust support from our team of experts:

Coaching Support: Our professional coaches provide guidance to your departmental staff and training cadre.
Physical Therapy: Access to both virtual and in-person consultations with our physical therapists. We also offer assistance with worker’s compensation care.

Cost Mitigation and Long-Term Health Management

Addressing and mitigating the burden of costs associated with time-loss injuries and health issues over the career of a public safety professional is a challenge facing departments throughout the country and is therefore a critical aspect of our program. By focusing on preventative measures and ongoing health monitoring, we aim to reduce the incidence of injuries and chronic health problems that can lead to costly time-loss incidents. Our comprehensive approach includes:

Proactive Injury Prevention: Through regular assessments and personalized corrective exercises, we help identify and address potential issues before they lead to significant injuries.
Health Optimization: Continuous monitoring of health metrics, personalized coaching and a built-in fitness plan (K2) ensure that public safety professionals maintain optimal health, reducing the likelihood of long-term health issues.
Cost Savings: By minimizing time-loss injuries and promoting overall well-being, our program can lead to substantial savings in medical costs and worker’s compensation claims.

We believe that our services can significantly contribute to the health, safety, and performance of public safety teams while also alleviating the financial burden associated with health-related absences keeping departments healthy and communities safe.