Stories

Tag: Physical Therapy

Helping those who help our Soldiers
December 4, 2024 — At an Army Recovery Care Program summit at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, occupational and physical therapists, clinical and social workers, doctors, and others from the fourteen Soldier Recovery Units shared information on ways to help. Joy Davis, an occupational therapist at the Fort Liberty SRU, stressed the value of coming together at events like this. “It’s integral for us to do a great job for our program and unit. Coming here, we can gather as much information as possible to take back and share to improve things for our Soldiers.” Davis says the goal is to deliver a holistic, high-level experience to wounded, ill, or injured Soldiers. According to Fort Liberty SRU Physical Therapist Brett Clingerman, talking with peers and leadership and hearing from subject matter experts at events like this is invaluable. “The networking piece, for me, is the most important. Process improvement is key, and I like hearing what works at the other SRUs. Finding the most effective way to implement things like what we do in adaptive reconditioning to Army Trials and even Warrior Games is important. We learn from each other to make our SRU the best it can be, helping Soldiers to get out there and find purpose again and something that motivates them to move again.” There are a lot of moving parts to help a Soldier move again. Attendees from throughout ARCP were able to share best practices at the summit. “As a PT, I am trying to get people moving. I want to get Soldiers to use their bodies again in situations where they’ve been in pain, and they don’t want to do that. An anecdote I share with Soldiers all the time is if you wait until you're ready to move or feel like moving, you’re probably not going to do it. It’s about taking that first step.” That first step isn’t just a physical one. The summit's holistic approach included a day of Struggle Well training. “Discussions here about Struggle Well Training is so important to what we do as PTs and OTs because it also helps the Soldier take that first step,” said Clingerman. Davis loves her role from the physical to the mental and spiritual healing processes because it encompasses them all. “I get to dive into the adaptive reconditioning side where I make relationships with the Soldiers to find out what’s going on with them and how we can better help. The other side, for me, involves assisting them with career and education opportunities. We are constantly working to find ways to help.” Davis and Clingerman shared that they can help tailor the program to the Soldier's needs. “Our activities allow us to get to know our Soldiers better, which means we get to help them even more. We hear stories all the time about how the AR Team has saved their lives.” When Soldiers move on from the SRU, Clingerman says it's bittersweet, but they are excited for them to progress to the next chapter of their lives. “We love making a lasting impact on them beyond the SRU, plus they know we care about them as people.” There is a sense of pride in a Soldier overcoming their situation and coming out on the other side. They carry that pride by joining forces with the friends who helped them. “We have Soldiers who return to the SRU and want to mentor the newer Soldiers by volunteering with adaptive reconditioning events. To me, that speaks to how valuable this program is.” The Army Recovery Care Program summit at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, demonstrated the collective effort of occupational and physical therapists, clinical and social workers, doctors, and others from fourteen Soldier Recovery Units (SRUs) to improve care for wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers. Joy Davis, an occupational therapist, and Brett Clingerman, a physical therapist from Fort Liberty SRU, highlighted the importance of networking, process improvement, and sharing best practices to deliver a holistic, high-level experience. The summit's holistic approach included Struggle Well training, emphasizing the mental and spiritual aspects of recovery alongside the physical. The program's activities aim to tailor care to each Soldier's needs, fostering relationships and assisting with career and education opportunities, ultimately helping Soldiers find purpose and motivation to move forward. Returning Soldiers often volunteer to mentor newer ones, showcasing the program's enduring impact... MORE

Physical Therapist Brett Clingerman and his colleague Occupational Therapist Joy Davis reviewed notes from the 2024 OT/PT and Post Traumatic Growth Summit at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, on December 4, 2024.

Recovery Services to the rescue!
July 5, 2024 — Ten days, eleven adaptive sports, and more than 200 athletes from the U.S. and Australia made the 2024 Department of Defense Warrior Games in Orlando not only memorable but also a source of inspiration for the broader community. It takes immense dedication to pull these games off—from logistics to coaches to communications and medical. With their unwavering commitment, the Medical Team for Team Army was like a daily cog in the wheel, helping to keep the machine moving. We found Retired Staff Sgt Gene Calantoc on track day on a table in the medical tent. His teammates nicknamed him "Gene the Machine" at these games! Daniel Rendeiro, a physical therapist from Ft. Cavasos, did his best to keep Gene the Machine moving. "I'm working on Gene's back. He just finished throwing the discus, which puts a lot of rotational stress on the back, so it took a toll on his mid-back. I will do my best to get the soreness out," said Rendeiro. Calantoc, a left-leg above-the-knee amputee, participated in seven of the eleven sporting events. Rendeiro emphasized the unique challenges these athletes face at the Warrior Games when we asked about the importance of a robust medical team. "The key is that most folks don't realize how grueling it is here at Warrior Games. An Olympic athlete has one event they specialize in and compete in, and these athletes here are required to specialize in multiple events over a very brief and intense period." Calantoc went from powerlifting to cycling, then wheelchair rugby, indoor rowing to wheelchair basketball, archery, and field events, all in eight days. "We call it recovery services because we help them recover between events so they can be at their best for the next event," said Rendeiro, underlining the vital role of the medical team in the recovery process. Calantoc's determination was evident as he expressed his readiness to return to the competition after Rendeiro's help. "I'm feeling amazing because all the physical therapists are out here for us athletes every day. We have so many sports; we must wake up and do it again. Our resilience keeps us going but having them around us gives us hope. Especially if you get injured, they are helping us out here." The help goes beyond the PT Rubdown. These athletes are continuing to recover and overcome, and it is not lost on this team of professionals who've pledged their support to this fantastic Army team. "That's why we have the medically related staff here, including the healthcare staff, physical therapists, athletic trainers, and physical therapy assistants. Our lead is a Physician's Assistant, and we also have a clinical social worker here for behavioral health. We've got the athletes covered! We want to help them in any area they need," said Rendeiro. This medical team is always sitting on ready, and Calantoc appreciates them, and the entire support system, for Team Army at the games. He smiles and shares his progress so far. "I got silver in powerlifting, cycling, rowing, and rugby, bronze and silver in archery, and silver in wheelchair basketball." He also won a silver in discus and a bronze in shotput. That's nine medals for the machine! Medals aside, Calantoc has a message for anyone experiencing a drastic health change. He encourages adaptive sports for physical and mental health: "Go out there and try it; your injury or illness is not the end of your life. Talk to and connect with an athlete to get inspiration. Seeing people better than me pumps me up and makes me want to do better. This mutual support within the athlete community is a powerful motivator. Go find someone better than you and get motivated!"... MORE

Physical Therapist at the 2024 Department of Defense Warrior Games