Ask The Tactical Trio
Ask the Tactical Trio addresses the questions faced by tactical professionals, athletic trainers, physical therapists, and strength coaches. Each episode provides practical guidance on subjects such as injury management, performance, recovery, and return to duty, based on real-world experience. Submit questions to askthetacticaltrio@gmail.com
Episodes
15 episodes
EMDR After Trauma - Two Firsthand Experiences
What is EMDR really like when you’re the person sitting in the chair?In this episode of Ask the Tactical Trio, we’re talking about EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) from a perspective you don’t always hear: lived exper...
Strong, Fit… and Still Peeing Yourself? Returning to Duty After Pregnancy
What does it really mean to be “cleared” to return to work after pregnancy?In this episode of Ask the Tactical Trio, we tackle a question from a firefighter and new mom of twins who was medically cleared to return to work just six weeks ...
Grant Me an AT! How to Fund Tactical Athletic Training & Wellness Programs
How do you actually pay for an athletic training, fitness, or wellness program in a police or fire department? In this episode of Ask The Tactical Trio, we tackle a question from a self-employed athletic trainer in Michigan who is look...
When the Call Comes Home (Part 3): Practical Tools for Stress, Recovery & Nervous System Regulation
What can first responders do after a critical incident when the call is over but their body is still in high alert?In the final episode of our three-part When the Call Comes Home series, the Tactical Trio gets practical. Becky, ...
When the Call Comes home (Part 2): Making Sense of Your Stress Response
Why do some critical incidents stay with us long after the scene is over? Why can you think clearly during a call, yet find yourself struggling days or even weeks later?In Part 2 of our When the Call Comes Home series, we move beyond the...
When the Call Comes Home (Part 1): When the Critical Incident Finds You Off Duty
In this powerful episode of Ask the Tactical Trio, Becky shares the deeply personal story of responding to her first fatality, one that is quite recent and that happened completely unexpectedly when she wasn't working. Without hesitati...
Old Dude in the Outfield: Back to Work ≠ Back to Play
Back to work doesn't always mean you're ready to get back in the game.In this episode of Ask the Tactical Trio, we answer a question from "Old Dude in the Outfield," a firefighter who returned to work successfully after s...
Minimum Effective Dose: Fitness for Busy First Responders
Most first responders believe fitness requires more time, energy, motivation, and discipline than they actually have.Five-day programs. Long workouts. Complex training plans. Perfect consistency.The result? Many police officers, f...
Sole Searching: Choosing Tactical Footwear
A patrol officer writes in with a problem almost every first responder recognizes:Boots that feel great at the start of shift…Feet that are cooked by mid-shift…Low back and knees that start complaining before the day is done....
Still Showing Up: Ankle Pain, Divorce & Recovery
A 47-year-old firefighter and military veteran writes in with a question so many first responders silently live through:A nagging ankle that won’t settle down.A divorce that’s draining everything mentally.Trying to exercise more ...
Why Shift Work Breaks Traditional Training Plans Part 2: Aerobic Base, Zone Training, the Glycolytic Trap & Power for First Responders
In Part 2 of this conversation, the Tactical Trio goes deep into the how of training for first responders working rotating shifts, nights, court days, call-outs, and chronic fatigue.This episode moves beyond general advice and breaks dow...
Why Shift Work Breaks Traditional Training Plans (Part 1)
A canine officer walks into a coffee shop and asks a simple question:“How am I supposed to follow a strength program when my shifts are all over the place?”This episode tackles a problem almost every first responder, poli...
When First Responders Open Up: Staying in Scope While Treating Stress-Driven Pain
In tactical settings, something powerful happens in the treatment room. The table becomes more than a place for rehab and manual therapy — it becomes a place where first responders feel safe enough to talk. And sometimes, you realize you might ...
What’s Got Our Attention Right Now in Tactical Health and Performance
We discuss the development and importance of physical employment standards testing for first responders, we explore how the nervous system influences pain, injury, and recovery in tactical rehabilitation, and we dive ...
Meet the Tactical Trio: Our Backgrounds and Our Mission
In the first episode of Ask The Tactical Trio, we introduce ourselves and the work that brought us together. With over 45 years of combined experience supporting first responders , we share our backgrounds in athletic training and stre...