A common saying is that if you’ve seen one brain injury, you’ve seen one brain injury. This reflects the complicated and unique presentation of each individual. When we consider repeated head impact exposures over a lifetime, it presents a very complicated and unique problem to address and stresses the importance of individualized and multidisciplinary approaches.… Continue reading Long-Term Impacts of Repeated Head Trauma
Author: Dani Fennerty
The Pervasiveness of Brain Trauma in Tactical Professionals
Neurotrauma is pervasive across the tactical community. These are only a few examples of the variety of mechanisms and specialties that are exposed to neurotrauma. It is important to recognize there is a range of neurotrauma to consider in this population, from severe traumatic brain injuries, to repeated subconcussive head trauma. It is imperative that… Continue reading The Pervasiveness of Brain Trauma in Tactical Professionals
Input, Processing, Output
The vestibular nuclear complex is an area of the brain that processes sensory information to create a motor output response. It integrates information from the vestibular system which senses motion, proprioception which senses position, visual information, as well as intended movement. [1] Another area of the brain that is important for vestibular processing is the… Continue reading Input, Processing, Output
“Every Tactical Team in the Country Should be Doing It”
Initial feedback of the Breacher Up program has been incredible. I truly believe every tactical team in the country should be doing it.Z.C. SWAT “The other guy that has been doing it daily with me has noticed an improvement in both his CQB and also his jiu-jitsu” Z.C. SWAT “The guys have said they feel… Continue reading “Every Tactical Team in the Country Should be Doing It”
Subconcussions and Omega-3 Supplementation
Studies on American collegiate football players who supplemented with omega-3 throughout both the preseason and during the season showed less of a blood biomarker called Nf-L as compared to the placebo controls at the end of the season. [1-2] Nf-L is short for neurofilament-light chain and is a commonly used biomarker to detect traumatic brain… Continue reading Subconcussions and Omega-3 Supplementation
Novel Sensory Environments
Tactical professionals are constantly performing under novel sensory environments. The unpredictable nature of the job requires strong foundational skills that can be an asset in any condition. Strength, power, and speed are all important foundational skills to prepare for the unpredictable. But because of the extreme and unpredictable conditions tactical athletes perform under, training to… Continue reading Novel Sensory Environments
The Vestibular System and Maintaining Position
One exercise I like to incorporate in training is movement with eyes closed. This is a more advanced way to load up the vestibular system and decrease reliance on the visual system for ownership of movement. Alternating lunges with eyes closed are a great example of a simple, but not necessarily easy way to train… Continue reading The Vestibular System and Maintaining Position
Training with Specificity – Breacher
There are three primary sensorimotor capabilities required of Breachers. These skills can, and should, be trained. I built out a 3 days per week for 4 weeks Breacher Up training program to do just that. It is a supplemental program that integrates into your current strength and conditioning routine. Here is Week 1 Day 1;… Continue reading Training with Specificity – Breacher
CQB
Close quarter battle (CQB) involves a variety of low-level blast (LLB) mechanisms, with training cycles requiring frequent exposures to these overpressures. The cumulative effects of these exposures are important to understand and monitor, both for how it can impact readiness and lethality as well as the potential long-term health consequences of these exposures. SFC McEvoy… Continue reading CQB
0.50 Caliber Sniper Rifle Blast Exposures Over a 3-day Training
A study done by Skotak, M., et al. (2019) measured the blast overpressure exposures of law and military snipers during a 3 day training event. [1] There were 20 subjects. 13 used a 0.50 caliber sniper rifle equipped with 29” long barrel. 7 used a 20” long barrel. Ammunition was either M33 ball or Hornady… Continue reading 0.50 Caliber Sniper Rifle Blast Exposures Over a 3-day Training