---
title: Athletic Trainers Help Arizona Fire Recruits Prevent Injuries
description: Athletic Trainers at the Greater Flagstaff Region Fire Academy use movement screening, strength, and recovery training to help recruits prevent injuries and extend careers.
image: https://blog.healthyroster.com/hubfs/Athletic%20Training%20And%20Sports%20Medicine%20News-1.jpg
---

[ All posts ](https://blog.healthyroster.com/blog/all)

 June 23, 2026

# Athletic Trainers Help Arizona Fire Recruits Prevent Injuries

![Picture of Tim Clark](https://blog.healthyroster.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Tim%20Clark.jpg?width=50&name=Tim%20Clark.jpg) By  [ Tim Clark ](https://blog.healthyroster.com/blog/author/tim-clark)  ·   1 minute read

![Articles for Athletic Trainers and News Stories](https://blog.healthyroster.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Athletic%20Training%20News%20and%20Articles%20-%20Small.png?width=500&height=150&name=Athletic%20Training%20News%20and%20Articles%20-%20Small.png)

Athletic Trainers are stepping into the fire academy to help protect those who protect us.

At the Greater Flagstaff Region Fire Academy, recruits are now working with Athletic Trainers to reduce the risk of injuries as they prepare for the physical and mental demands of firefighting.

<https://www.firerescue1.com/health-wellness/athletic-trainers-help-ariz-fire-recruits-prevent-injuries>Two mornings a week, recruits take part in sessions led by Megan Mulready, assistant clinical professor at Northern Arizona University, along with Physio Shop trainers Lauren Donnelly and Sara Chatham-Carey.

The program blends movement screening, functional strength training, and recovery work.

*“It is physically challenging, it’s mentally demanding, it’s showing up every day,” said Flagstaff Battalion Chief Kyle Denham. “You are putting a lot of physical work in, which takes a toll on your body and your mind.” *

Denham explained that back injuries are the most common at the academy, often caused by lifting, while sprained wrists and rolled ankles are also frequent as firefighters work in difficult, unfamiliar environments.

Recruits first complete a functional movement screening to identify risks, then are grouped by score for twice-weekly sessions. The progressive workouts emphasize strength, mobility, stability, and recovery, with targeted exercises such as rotational work, single-leg movements, core isometrics, foam rolling, and stretching.

Mulready designed the program specifically for “tactical athletes”—firefighters, law enforcement officers, and other emergency responders.

*“As an Athletic Trainer, I’m used to working with teams and having quick access to the athletes, doing prevention, screening, treatment, rehabilitation, referral,” she said. “I was considering to myself, ‘Why isn’t this accessible to the people who provide us emergency care?’”*

The fire department quickly embraced the initiative.

*“I’ve seen career-ending injuries that might have been prevented,” Denham said. *

The goal is for recruits to carry these skills throughout their careers and share them with colleagues, helping keep first responders strong and ready. Check out the full story [here](https://www.firerescue1.com/health-wellness/athletic-trainers-help-ariz-fire-recruits-prevent-injuries)!

Share: [facebook-f icon ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.healthyroster.com/blog/athletic-trainers-help-arizona-fire-recruits-prevent-injuries) [linkedin-in icon ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.healthyroster.com/blog/athletic-trainers-help-arizona-fire-recruits-prevent-injuries) [twitter icon ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.healthyroster.com/blog/athletic-trainers-help-arizona-fire-recruits-prevent-injuries) [pinterest-p icon ](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://blog.healthyroster.com/blog/athletic-trainers-help-arizona-fire-recruits-prevent-injuries) [envelope icon ](mailto:?body=https://blog.healthyroster.com/blog/athletic-trainers-help-arizona-fire-recruits-prevent-injuries)

## Related posts

[![](https://blog.healthyroster.com/hubfs/Athletic%20Training%20And%20Sports%20Medicine%20News-1.jpg) ](https://blog.healthyroster.com/blog/meaghan-rourke-championing-athletic-training-with-dedication-and-passion)

[Spotlight on Athletic Trainers](https://blog.healthyroster.com/blog/tag/spotlight-on-athletic-trainers)

### [Meaghan Rourke: Championing Athletic Training with Dedication and Passion](https://blog.healthyroster.com/blog/meaghan-rourke-championing-athletic-training-with-dedication-and-passion)

[![](https://blog.healthyroster.com/hubfs/Athletic%20Training%20And%20Sports%20Medicine%20News-1.jpg) ](https://blog.healthyroster.com/blog/laurens-district-high-honors-longtime-athletic-trainer-barry-atkinson)

[Athletic Trainer Honored](https://blog.healthyroster.com/blog/tag/athletic-trainer-honored)

### [Laurens District High Honors Longtime Athletic Trainer Barry Atkinson](https://blog.healthyroster.com/blog/laurens-district-high-honors-longtime-athletic-trainer-barry-atkinson)

[![](https://blog.healthyroster.com/hubfs/Athletic%20Training%20And%20Sports%20Medicine%20News-1.jpg) ](https://blog.healthyroster.com/blog/athletic-trainer-haas-honored-with-outstanding-service-award-by-nsiaaa)

[Athletic Trainer Honored](https://blog.healthyroster.com/blog/tag/athletic-trainer-honored)

### [Athletic Trainer Haas Honored with Outstanding Service Award by NSIAAA](https://blog.healthyroster.com/blog/athletic-trainer-haas-honored-with-outstanding-service-award-by-nsiaaa)

![websights](https://ws.zoominfo.com/pixel/633f1c8a5a797886caf77a14)

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Tim Clark",
    "url" : "https://blog.healthyroster.com/blog/author/tim-clark"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2026-06-23T14:27:53.079Z",
  "datePublished" : "2025-09-24T13:12:47.000Z",
  "headline" : "Athletic Trainers Help Arizona Fire Recruits Prevent Injuries",
  "image" : [ "https://blog.healthyroster.com/hubfs/Athletic%20Training%20And%20Sports%20Medicine%20News-1.jpg" ],
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://blog.healthyroster.com/blog/athletic-trainers-help-arizona-fire-recruits-prevent-injuries",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://blog.healthyroster.com/hubfs/2026%20HR%20Logo%20w%20Tagline_Full%20Color-1.png"
    },
    "name" : "Healthy Roster"
  }
}
```

```json
{
  "@context" : "http://schema.org",
  "@type" : "Article",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : [ "Tim Clark" ],
    "url" : "https://blog.healthyroster.com/blog/author/tim-clark"
  },
  "datePublished" : "2025-09-24T13:12:47+0000",
  "description" : "Athletic Trainers at the Greater Flagstaff Region Fire Academy use movement screening, strength, and recovery training to help recruits prevent injuries and extend careers.",
  "headline" : "Athletic Trainers Help Arizona Fire Recruits Prevent Injuries",
  "image" : "https://6581845.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/6581845/Athletic%20Training%20And%20Sports%20Medicine%20News-1.jpg",
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://6581845.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/6581845/2026%20HR%20Logo%20w%20Tagline_Full%20Color-1.png"
    },
    "name" : "Healthy Roster"
  },
  "url" : "https://blog.healthyroster.com/blog/athletic-trainers-help-arizona-fire-recruits-prevent-injuries"
}
```