The College of Health Sciences is teaming up with Fusionetics, Inc., a software company based in Alpharetta, Ga., on their “Developing the Occupational Athlete Project.” This initiative was established to reduce injury, improve injury care and enhance life-long health of tactical athletes.

Tactical athletes, like firefighters, police officers and military personnel, are professionals whose health and fitness is crucial to their job performance. With this new project, Fusionetics technology is being used to train firefighters in Milwaukee for safer, more efficient physical exertion on the job.

To address the issue of movement efficiency specifically, Fusionetics, Inc., invested $30,000 in the College’s Human Performance & Sport Physiology (HPSP) Laboratory, and provided a three-year software license for use of its Fusionetics Human Performance System.

Associate Professor and Chair Kyle Ebersole, Ph.D., LAT, Department of Kinesiology, Integrative Health Care & Performance (IHCP) and Physical Therapy, directs the work at the HPSP Lab. Not only is this project helping Milwaukee firefighters, but it also gives students valuable experience in preparing for their chosen professions. “The students are participating in an integrated and interdisciplinary approach to performance and health, and as they enter their professional fields, this hands-on experience will truly set them apart,” said Ebersole.

This software system, which is designed to help athletes and trainers understand, monitor and improve performance at all levels, has enabled faculty and students in the HPSP Lab to re-design the fitness and performance evaluation process. These innovations aim to improve mobility and power, integrated psychological skills and an effective pathway for injury evaluation and treatment.

With the cumulative expertise in the HPSP Lab, combined with the tools provided by Fusionetics, Milwaukee firefighters, their cadets and recruits will be able to optimize performance and continue reducing injury while they keep Milwaukee and the surrounding community safe.

The program has already produced positive outcomes in the greater Milwaukee area, improving quality of life for tactical athletes, as well as contributing to student achievement at UWM. This program’s success has led to further partnerships with the City of Madison Fire Department.