Journal article
Exploring the effects of holistic performance training in tactical athletes: a pilot longitudinal study of the game plan training programming
Frontiers in sports and active living, Vol.8, 1879693
06/22/2026
PMID: 42404335
Web of Science ID: WOS:001812021900001
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Abstract
Background Tactical athletes face disproportionately high rates of musculoskeletal injury, with associated mental health consequences including fear-avoidance behavior and functional decline. While holistic programs integrating physical training and psychological support have shown promise for whole-person recovery, evidence for the durability of such benefits beyond the immediate post-intervention period in tactical populations remains limited.
ObjectiveTo quantify the physiological, psychological, and quality-of-life effects of the Game Plan program at baseline, immediately post-program, and at 90 days and 6 months follow-up.
Methods Twenty adult participants engaged in a four-week Game Plan program. Assessments included Body Composition Analysis, Mental Health Evaluation, Quality of Life Survey (QOLS), Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK), EXOS Pillar Pre-Requisite Assessment, and a daily sleep log. Data was collected at baseline, post-program, and during remote follow-ups at 90 days and 6 months. This single-arm, observational pilot study was not designed to establish causation. Longitudinal changes were evaluated using linear mixed-effects models.
Results Twenty tactical athlete participants were enrolled in the study. All were white males with an average age of 41.4 (SD = 7.13) years old. A significant improvement in overall functioning was observed at 4 weeks compared with baseline (mean difference, 9.05; 95% CI: 2.20 to 15.90; p = 0.032; Cohen's d = 0.84). Kinesiophobia demonstrated a significant reduction at 90 days compared with baseline (mean difference, −4.40; 95% CI: −6.62 to −2.17; p < 0.001; Cohen's d = −1.37). Sleep duration showed a small but non-significant trend toward improvement at Week 4 compared with Week 1 (mean difference, 0.23; 95% CI: −0.03 to 0.49; Cohen's d = 0.22; p = 0.237. Larger studies are needed to confirm this observation. The Quality-of-Life domains, including Physical, Psychological, Social Health, and Environmental, showed no significant difference from baseline to 6 months.
Conclusion The four-week holistic training program with tactical athletes was associated with improvement in kinesiophobia, and overall functioning, with kinesiophobia gains persisting at six-month follow-up. A trend toward improved sleep duration was observed but did not reach statistical significance. The quality-of-life domains did not reach statistical significance. These pilot findings support further investigation through controlled trials to establish causal relationships.
Details
- Title
- Exploring the effects of holistic performance training in tactical athletes
- Publication Details
- Frontiers in sports and active living, Vol.8, 1879693
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media S.A
- Number of pages
- 10
- Grant note
- State of Florida, Department of Health
The author(s) declared that financial support was received for this work and/or its publication. State of Florida, Department of Health- Grant CORKG.
- Copyright
- © 2026 Truett, Dodd, Kersey, Golden, Cohen, Kulkarni and Anz.
- Identifiers
- WOS:001812021900001; 99381828504306600
- Academic Unit
- Mathematics and Statistics
- Language
- English