Page 113 - Mind, Body and Spirit 2016/17

Wattbikes from the gymnasium and in the quest to spark some interest in the sport of cycling, Sgt Briggs introduced numerous cycle challenges and team events to help focus phase 2 patients. This has proven to be a highly effective way of getting trainees to think of new and alternative long term tness goals.
At the end of August 2016, Sgt Briggs deployed to BATUK for 3 months in an ERI capacity in support of Ex ASKARI STORM. It became apparent that the hectic schedule at PCRF Minley was good preparation for the swarm of patients from the Battle Group. Sgt Briggs was fortunate enough to have most weekends off making the most of seeing as much of Kenya as possible; a place he describes as a truly awe inspiring place and would recommend it to anyone who has not been before. Although the altitude helped his tness, his cardiovascular gains were mainly due to his enforced protection of his (and I quote) “ginger paleness” by sprinting from one shaded area to another!
At PCRF London, SSgt (SSI) Ian Tosh RAPTC encounters a vast diversity of clientele providing him the opportunity to communicate through the ranks to the heights of Brigadier on a daily basis. He is on his second tour as an ERI having served at PCRF Shorncliffe until the summer of 2016. The current cohort of staff at PCRF London is made up of 2 part time Sports Doctors, 6 Physiotherapists, a part time Podiatrist and SSgt Tosh as the sole military presence in the form of the ERI. Although this may present its own challenges, the wealth of knowledge within the department is vast and allows for productive and innovative debates over coffee! PCRF London supports the Ceremonial Companies, HQ at Horse Guards, MOD Main Building and Regents Park Barracks. This means the personnel at risk stands at approximately 1600. SSgt Tosh’s focus for 2017 is to support LONDIST with rehab advice, guidance and a reconditioning structure for units in order to aid a better and more effective force. Outwith clinical practice, SSgt Tosh is training for the Transcontinental Race 2017 from Belgium to Greece through 12 different countries covering 4000km with over 55000m of climbing in a target of 10-12 days this August. To say burning the candle at both ends this spring alongside elongated training rides would be an understatement. Luckily SSgt Tosh has an understanding wife and a workplace 40 miles from his home address allowing him to get the miles in. Fortunately, London has all the things you would need from a posting apart from a breadth of diverse patients; late trains, congestion, smog and thousands of tourists queuing up outside the camp gates. However, if you are a serving Corps member and fancy a bit of live music, drop him a line and go along to watch the changing of HM Guard at Buckingham Palace.
ATR Winchester is a Phase 1 establishment responsible for recruit training, delivering a very demanding 14 weeks of Common Military Syllabus. The clinical staff at PCRF (W) is made up of an OC in Capt Olivia Birch RAMC, 2 x ERIs in Sgts (SI) Lee Paterson, Sgt (SI) David (Bill) Gates RAPTC and a civilian Band 7 Physiotherapist in Mrs Vicky Laws. PCRF (W) is responsible for
injured recruits within Fox Troop as well as permanent staff. Fox Troop caters for all recruits that are injured during Phase 1 training. Upon injury they are referred to the medical centre where they are directed accordingly. Recruits referred to the Physio department are assessed and the extent of their injury determines whether they will require time out from training in Fox Troop. Fox Troop is speci cally made up of an SMO, OC PCRF, an ERI and nally Fox Troop Sgt and OC. The Fox rehabilitation programme has recently been updated to incorporate ‘The Big 5’ injury prevention handbook which has seen improvements in early, intermediate and late rehabilitation. This has improved the recruits’ approach to rehabilitation and enables them to remain motivated towards participating in vocational PT. By improving patient ownership of their rehabilitation and overall tness, moral has improved signi cantly throughout the Troop. Over the last year, PCRF (W) has gone through a churn of staff with only one member of the team (Sgt Bill Gates) remaining in post from the previous year. Change can always bring about a positive outcome to the working environment with new ideas and fresh challenges identi ed. This is evident with the implementation of a new six week rolling programme for Fox Troop and new outcome protocols based on DDRs best practice guidelines. Sgt Bill Gates and his team now look forward to the challenges that lie ahead, as well as observing the changes and progression of their work throughout the next year with the new programmes and protocols now in place.
At the PCRF at RMAS in Sandhurst, SSgt (SI) Mark Freeman RAPTC and the team have spent this year focussing on work strands that have helped to improve the rehabilitation service at the Academy. The implementation of new and improved tness initiatives have started to reap the rewards. This has resulted in an increase in of cer cadets returning to training post injury, rising from 70% to 85% respectively. Currently, the Academy has a two- tiered approach to exercise therapy, with both physio and ERI timetabled in to progress patients as required. This approach, in line with an effective medical chain, continues to see the cadets’ better supported and armed to be successful in the transition through the rigors of a robust training programme. The CoC in return, receive a more robust cadet post admission, having successfully reached MATT 2 standards in both AFT and PFA and additionally other functional testing protocols.
Other work strands within the RRU have included the development and delivery of an AAPTI Injury Prevention Workshop. MSKI is the most common cause of Medical Discharge and currently costs Defence circa £100m pa. Having identi ed this shortfall, it became a priority to address this situation in order to maintain an effective ghting force. The one day workshop was aimed at AAPTIs from local units within the RRU Aldershot AOR. However, representatives from 11X and 101 Log X from further a eld were also invited to attend. The aim was to concentrate on two key areas – injury prevention in a physical training environment and injury prevention in an exercise/operational setting.
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PCRF Abingdon New Rehab Gym
OFT 2 Testing with Lucknow Platoon