CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq (Army News Service, Jan. 18, 2011) -- Members of 256th Combat Support Hospital, working at the physical therapy clinic here, help keep U.S Division-North Soldiers at 100 percent medical readiness.
The 256th CSH is responsible for several medical facilities across USD-N including three physical therapy clinics.
"We are a very busy clinic, in fact, we see close to 50 percent of all of the patients that come through the CSH here on COB Speicher," said 1st Lt. Michael Lohse, a physical therapist with the 256th CSH.
The clinic serves a vital role in keeping Soldiers in the fight and off profile, said Lohse, a native of Ettrick, Wis.
"We are here for the Soldiers," said Lohse. "Our entire mission here at the clinic is to provide Soldiers with the treatment they need to overcome injuries and get back to functioning at 100 percent."
The majority of patients seeking treatment at the PT clinic have injuries incurred during physical training, said Lohse.
"Many injuries that occur during physical training or sports activities are preventable," he said. "In fact, injury prevention is a major concern right now in the Army for medical personnel.
Lohse, who periodically leads a seminar on injury prevention and how the musculoskeletal system works, said that core strength and balance training should be incorporated into Soldiers' physical training schedule
Core strength and balance training can help relieve lower back pain and prevent injuries to joints like the ankle and knee, said Lohse.
"You have to take care of your body," said Spc. Brian Neill, a combat medic specializing in physical therapy with the 256th CSH. "If you want to have the same pain-free body 50 years from now you have to be conscious of injuries and how to prevent them."
In a perfect world, all injuries would be prevented, but in the real world, if aches and pains are encountered, explained Neill, it is best to seek advice and treatment before they can become a more serious problem.
While the Army is making a huge push for injury prevention and awareness, injuries are going to occur, said Neill, a native of Columbus, Ohio.
When Soldiers are injured, self-diagnosis and self-medicating are not the answer, he said.
"We encourage people to get treatment if they have a problem," said Lohse. "The best patients we get are the ones who realize they have an injury and want to be rehabilitated, so they can return to 100 percent duty and remain a part of the (mission) in U.S. Division-North," said Lohse.
(Sgt. David Strayer writes for 109th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)
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