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Military Injuries and Physical Therapy

Military Injuries and Physical Therapy

Military Injuries and Physical TherapyMusculoskeletal pain has been a major complaint among young soldiers who consult physical therapists. In fact, in the United States, nonbattle injuries account for the most outpatient medical encounters among soldiers – over 2 million annually. These injuries can be so severe that they may prevent nearly 65% of soldiers from being deployed due to medical conditions.

Those with musculoskeletal pain usually feel aches throughout the entire body, or as if their muscles have been overworked. Symptoms like fatigue, pain, or sleep disruption are also prevalent among people with musculoskeletal injuries. 

Usually, musculoskeletal disorders affect the musculoskeletal system, consisting of the nerves, tendons, muscles, discs, ligaments, and blood vessels.

Causes of Musculoskeletal Injuries

The following are some of the causes of painful musculoskeletal muscles:

  • Forceful exertions
  • Repetitive and stereotyped motions 
  • Vibration
  • Non-neutral postures
  • Etc.

Why Do Soldiers Suffer From Musculoskeletal Pains?

Soldiers usually go through intense physical training programs — from basic training and building muscle strength to being deployed in the field. As a result, injuries are bound to happen.

However, when injuries occur, the culture of specialized units prevents immediate injury rehabilitation causing even minor injuries to worsen.

All the same, painful musculoskeletal injuries may be as a result of the following conditions:

  • Incorrect exercise programs: This may include employment of extreme physical exercises and overuse
  • Battle scars: When someone is injured during training, sometimes they may not be adequately attended and at the right time, making the condition of the injuries worse
  • Living conditions: Apart from incorrect exercises, sometimes soldiers in the fields or camps may lack staff like sports psychologists, conditioning coaches, and physical therapists to help them facilitate treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery

How Fusion Physical Therapy Can Help

It is vital for soldiers with musculoskeletal conditions to go through all treatment stages: from the acute phase when the injury occurs to the surgery and rehabilitation process where physical therapy comes in.

When you visit us here at Fusion Physical Therapy, Lawton, Oklahoma, our injury specialists will first examine your medical history. They will also conduct several tests for joint stability and range of motion before they customize a treatment plan for you.

Contact us today and book an appointment.

Soldier Injuries and Physical Therapy

Soldier Injuries and Physical TherapyThere has never been an institution that brought out as many musculoskeletal injuries as soldiers in the military. From physical training to military service, major complaints of young adult soldiers when they consult with physical therapists are painful musculoskeletal muscles. A musculoskeletal system consists of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, discs and blood vessels. Movement deficiencies and muscle imbalance are major causes of painful musculoskeletal conditions.

Why do soldiers suffer from musculoskeletal pains?

Soldiers go through extreme fitness training programs from the time they enter basic training to build muscle strength and endurance and maintain this when they get deployed in field assignments. Many times, the culture of specialized units prohibit rehabilitation for injuries that may have been kept from worsening had it been given immediate proper care and attention in the first place. These injuries could result from certain conditions, like:

  • Incorrect Exercise Program: Soldiers go through basic to advance training programs because of the strenuous nature of their jobs. Unfortunately, programs in the regular army, as opposed to special forces, tend to employ improper exercise routine that overwork some muscles, so they become overused and tight while neglecting others, so they become weak and lengthened. Advanced exercises don’t utilize proper body mechanics leading to injury, as our bodies are designed to move a very specific way.
  • Battle Scars: Injuries sustained in the course of their jobs improperly treated or not referred out by medical staff in the proper manner may also have prevented them from being treated by physical therapists in time and conditions in squad training make personal injuries worse. Only when they get home can they properly consult for correct treatment and physical therapy.
  • Living Conditions: Aside from improper exercise, there is a lack of health personnel in camps and fields. Staff like strength and conditioning coaches, physical therapists and sports psychologists are not on hand to facilitate preventive treatment, recovery, and rehabilitation.

How Fusion Physical Therapy can help

Soldiers with musculoskeletal injuries must go through stages of treatment – from the initial injury to surgery, to the rehab process wherein physical therapy rehabilitation is extremely important.

At Fusion Physical Therapy, our injury experts will conduct a thorough examination taking your medical history into account, then test for a range of motion and joint stability. We will then design a treatment plan specifically for your needs.

Contact Fusion Physical Therapy for an appointment today.

Soldier Injuries and Physical Therapy | Fusion Physical Therapy

Soldier Injuries and Physical TherapyFor individuals who have served in the military, musculoskeletal injuries typically occur at a high rate and are also known as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). MSDs are caused by the endless vigorous exercises that military personnel undertake in their quest to reach and maintain high fitness levels. MSDs affect the musculoskeletal system of the human body. The system consists of every organ or tissue that enables form, stability, and movement throughout the body. These injuries are one of the typical reasons why soldiers seek appointments with their doctors.

Physical therapy is one of the valuable treatment options for soldiers that agonize with MSDs. Top in the list of physical therapies that military men and women may decide to take up is joint mobilization. Fusion Physical Therapy avails various treatment plans that will help the suffering soldier.

Role of physical therapists for soldiers

Soldiers need more sessions of physical therapy than the average person due to a variety of reasons which include:

  • Vigorous workout sessions – To ascertain that the soldiers are fit for battle, they undergo extreme training sessions. During these intense exercises, some end up sustaining deep MSDs that demand instant attention to avoid further injuries and stop the situation from becoming life-threatening.
  • Battle wounds – In their service during the battles, soldiers inevitably get wounds and scars. They sustain injuries during combat or even while handling military equipment.
  • Living circumstances – Soldiers often live in very tough conditions in their camps, and at times these unfavorable conditions may result in injuries, including back pain. In some of these cases, physical therapy can bring relief.

How we help

At Fusion Physical Therapy, we have qualified and certified physical therapists ready to perform an extensive examination to determine how best to help you. Our comprehensive examination and testing include reviewing the patient’s medical history and their most notable symptoms. The treatment plan may include the following:

  • Extreme temperature-based therapy
  • Customized home workouts
  • Manual therapy
  • Pose exercise and movements
  • Avoidance education

The physical therapists at Fusion Physical Therapy have many years of experience in diagnosing and treating soldier injuries using the most advanced physical therapies. They will work with you to come up with a personalized treatment plan designed to decrease the pain from your musculoskeletal injuries. Contact us today and schedule your appointment and let us help you get back to your daily activities devoid of any pain.