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Research confirms that exercise positively impacts trauma symptoms in veterans. Studies also show that community support is critical for those suffering from trauma. However, there are no large-scale studies to date on how community and exercise, together, may help first responders increase trauma resilience. Our research hopes to change this. Our bold project will include over 500 first responders from up to eight different departments in Texas, comprised of a mix of police and firefighters, to participate in the program. Our goal is to see if community exercise can be used as an intervention for trauma and help build resilience in first responders. We hope to use this powerful physiological and cognitive data for current and future research on trauma in other departments across the country.
We are committed to helping address the mental wellness needs of our first responders through empowering treatment methods. Community exercise is one clinical tool that first responders can use to increase their resilience, form critical social bonds, and take control of their mental and physical health.
F1RST, Sparking Life & Endominance are working together to research how community exercise can build resilience to trauma and stress in first responders. This revolutionary research lays the groundwork to demonstrate the mind-body connection, and how exercise impacts stress.
We already understand that trauma impacts the health and well-being of first responders – to learn more about the science behind this study, visit Endominance.
Research confirms that exercise positively impacts trauma symptoms in veterans. Studies also show that community support is critical for those suffering from trauma. However, there are no large-scale studies to date on how community and exercise, together, may help first responders increase trauma resilience. Our research hopes to change this.
Taking on a research project of this magnitude requires a team of experts.
Dr. Heather Twedell, a psychologist for over ten years, will oversee the project through her F1RST trauma program. Dr. Twedell’s work with first responders gives her a strong understanding of the culture and stressors specific to these heroes.
Sparking Life, a non-profit resource for organizations to help promote exercise to treat mental health challenges will oversee the project’s operations. Among the board members of Sparking Life is co-founder Dr. John J. Ratey, who will also supervise the research. Dr. Ratey is an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and an internationally recognized expert in Neuropsychiatry.
Endominance, a science-based assessment company, will measure and determine the cognitive scores for each participant.
F1RST, Sparking Life and Endominance are collaborating together to conduct research to determine how exercise can promote resiliency in First Responders exposed to trauma.
We hope to use this powerful physiological and cognitive data for current and future research on trauma in other departments across the country.
We are committed to helping address the mental wellness needs of our first responders through empowering treatment methods
Taking on a research project of this magnitude requires a team of experts.
To learn more about the science behind the COSEC assessment used in the study, visit Endominance here.
Read a review of the literature on this subject here.
Discover the science of trauma and stress on first responders, and how exercise impacts resiliency here.
Learn how PTSD affects cognition in first responders and discover the treatments helping front-line workers in this blog post.
