| Thousands of soldiers are returning from the | | | | completing the assessment, a treatment plan is |
| wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with moderate to | | | | discussed and therapy begins. Pain management is |
| severe physical injuries. Such injuries include head | | | | a key component of physical therapy. |
| tram, loss of limbs, and debilitating injuries to such | | | | Other physical therapy treatments include postural |
| areas as the arms and legs. Medical providers are | | | | training and ergonomic training. Also called Human |
| utilizing a number of treatments to help these | | | | engineering, the applied science of ergonomics is |
| brave men and woman return to civilian life. | | | | focused on designing and arranging objects that |
| Service dogs are helping to counteract the | | | | patients use regularly so that patients and objects |
| effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder | | | | can interact adeptly and safely. For instance, work |
| (PTSD) by providing dogs to help calm and relax a | | | | arrangements to accommodate the patient could |
| soldier suffering from PTSD. The dogs sense a | | | | consist of providing a more comfortable chair, |
| soldier's anxiety helps calm the soldier through the | | | | sitting closer to a work desk, lowering the |
| use of touch. The dogs are a loving distraction | | | | computer keyboard, arranging items to be at |
| from stress. The dogs have two years of special | | | | easy reach. This is often done for soldiers with |
| training to help people with cognitive disorders and | | | | back pain. Techniques and modifications are |
| physical disabilities. | | | | implemented to fit the patient's specific medical |
| The Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) | | | | condition. |
| is the central point of helping soldiers recovering | | | | Exercises are an essential part of physical therapy |
| from traumatic injury. The Walter Reed Health | | | | treatment. This can include swimming, using a |
| Care System (WRHCS) consists of ten facilities in | | | | treadmill, stretching techniques, breathing |
| three states. Physical therapy services include | | | | techniques, lifting weights. These exercises are |
| rehabilitation treatments in areas as neurorehab, | | | | not only for clinic use, but also for home exercise. |
| orthopedics, and amputees. The service is divided | | | | As well, therapeutic techniques are designed to |
| into five major sections: inpatient, orthopedic | | | | help soldiers learn how to function with artificial |
| inpatient, outpatient, amputee, and aquatic | | | | limbs. |
| therapy. | | | | The trauma of war can be emotionally debilitating. |
| For physical injuries medical providers deliver | | | | For returning injured soldiers, physical therapy |
| various methods of treatment such as ultrasound, | | | | includes mental health therapy. This can include |
| heat, ice and massage therapy, as well as a | | | | providing coping strategies on how to deal with a |
| carefully designed exercise program. They also | | | | loss of a limb, overcoming the feeling of |
| employ such treatment techniques as bands, | | | | helplessness, overcoming the feeling of isolation |
| medicine balls, stretches and exercise bikes to | | | | and depression, and showing the soldier that life |
| help e purpose is to strengthening and condition | | | | can still be productive and meaningful. |
| weak, sore, and injured muscles and joints. Often | | | | Soldiers deserve the best medical treatment for |
| physical therapy has been more productive than | | | | their service. Because there are so many soldiers |
| surgery. | | | | returning from war seriously injured, it is |
| The physical therapist will also perform different | | | | important that heath care providers are there to |
| tests to diagnose the patient's condition. After | | | | help them return to civilian life. |