Physical

Rehabilitation in
Police Departments:
Program Benefits and
Keys for Success

Rebecca Swan
M.R.Sc., B.A.H.Sc., B.H.K., CAT(C), C.S.C.S., FMS
March 30, 2019
  Athletic Therapist at the Vancouver Police
Department
 Police Family
About Me  Athletic Background
 Team Background
Objectives

01 02 03
How police To identify key Identify potential
departments can elements to include barriers for
benefit from having in a proposal to a implementing
an on-site athletic police department athletic training in
trainer for athletic training police departments
services
What is your vision
of a police officer?
Tactical Athletes?

Movements Injuries
• Sit • Ankles
• Stand • Knees
• Walk/Run/Jump • Low Back
• Climb/crawl • Shoulders
• Fight • Neck
• Strategy/train • Concussion
IACP Injury Report

 18 agencies participated for 1 year

 1,295 reported injuries
 Resulting in 5,938 days missed
 4.5 days missed, 3.5 day rehab period
 Based on 10 hour work day – 59,380 lost work time!
 Cost - $1,211,352 + $1,817,028 + $3,000,000
 IACP Suggestions to Agencies

 Track Injuries
 Target injury-reduction
 Implement mandatory fitness programs
 Impact of offenders on officer wellness
 Mandatory safety items
IACP Fitness & Weight on Injuries

 53% reported that they participated in some type of fitness regimen

at all
 Officers who did engage in fitness training were less likely to have
an injury that was reportable
 Not only did officers who are overweight experience injuries that
were more severe, but they also were found to miss more work days
and require longer rehabilitations.
 Healthy weight = less lost work time from injuries

Photo by Victor Freitas on Unsplash

 IACP Fitness &
Weight on Injuries

Have a fitness program

Encourage participation
Incentive programs
Annual fitness evaluations
Easy-to-understand resources and
information
Work with local businesses

Photo by Danielle Cerullo on Unsplash

Wellness Trends in Police Departments

Mental Officer Spiritual Financial Family

Fitness Nutrition
Wellness Safety Wellness Wellness Wellness

Photo by Stephan Henning on Unsplash

 Athletic Trainers in
Police Departments

Why trainers are a good fit

Ground breakers
NATA
NSCA TSAC

Photo by Hans-Peter Gauster on Unsplash

Research Departments
Network
Needs Assessment and Analysis
Find supporting Evidence
Photo by Christian Spies on Unsplash
 Personal
Development

Build your tactical resume

Highlight your strengths
Police Knowledge

Photo by Stanislav Kondratiev on Unsplash

Program Proposal

Can AT’s work with LEO

in your state?
Decide on an agency

What structure will you

propose?
What services will you
provide?
Photo by Ani Kolleshi on Unsplash
 Outline how you can
Highlight the benefits
save them money

Example:
An injured VPD officer costs 2.5x the price
of a healthy officer.

Healthy Officer 40 x $36 = $1440

Injured Officer 2.5 x 40 x $36 = $3600
Cost avoidance of $2160/rotation! Photo by Fabian Blank on Unsplash
Program Elements to Address

Process, Structure, Communication

Support
Accessibility and Features
Police Culture
Service Provider Traits
PD Buy In

Photo by Marco Del Borrello on Unsplash

Benefits of On-Site Rehabilitation
 Barriers to
Implementation

Organizational Lack of
Budget
Structure Direction

Level of
Police Culture
Knowledge

Photo by André Bandarra on Unsplash

 Be
Follow patient
up

Provide
updates

Persevere
Photo by Fabien Wl on Unsplash
 Perseverance

Started Masters at UBC in P/T physio and fitness

Hired, started rehab Rehabilitation Science coordinator hired

2010 2015 2016

2011 2015 2018

Position changed to Athletic Therapy and Master’s research study

athletic therapist Wellness Unit complete

Photo by Fabien Wl on Unsplash

Let officers be officers, we can help
them so they can serve and protect

Athletic trainers can watch officers

backs in terms of wellness

Photo by King's Church International on Unsplash

 Take Action!

Find an email address, ask to

meet or go for a coffee, start a
discussion.

You never know where it will go!

 Questions?
NATA Public Safety Society
NSCA- TSAC Certification
Rebecca (Becky) Swan
IACP – International
Rebecca.swan@vpd.ca
Association of Chiefs of Police
IG - @beckyswanat
Policeone
Blueline
 References
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doi:10.1186/s12998-016-0113-z
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Research and Public Health, 13(4), 370. doi:10.3390/ijerph13040370
9. Goffinett, Woody. (2017) Athletic Trainers in Police Departments: Cost Efficiency and Risk Mitigation. The Police Chief, May 2017. Retrieved
from https://www.wilsonhealth.org/sites/wilsonhealth.org/files/news/attachments/pages_from_policechief_may2017_v3.pdf
10. https://www.theiacp.org/sites/default/files/2018-07/IACP_Fact_Sheet_Fitness_Weight.pdf
11. https://www.theiacp.org/sites/default/files/2018-07/IACP_Fact_Sheet_Injury_Tracking.pdf
12. https://www.theiacp.org/sites/default/files/2018-07/IACP_ROI_Final_Report.pdf