Page 121 - RAPTC Number 102 2018/19

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SSgt (SSI) Wallace RAPTC Lead ERI PCRF Pirbright
new Physical Employment Standards. In her new role she has been dealing with the Permanent Staff rehabilitation for several locations in the region, coaching the ATC (P) Ladies Basketball team, and retained her Captaincy of the UKAF Basketball team which recorded a number of wins during the season. After 3 years out of the rehabilitation cadre she is enjoying life back with physios and members of the department.
Sgt (SI) McWilliams had a busy first year as an ERI, taking on a BA (Hons) in Leadership and Management, and managing, as well as playing for, the British Army All Stars Ice Hockey Team who won the Army Cup despite several strong contenders. As a member of the ATC (P) BAWF team, the coming year is looking bright as they continue to show strong performances in the region. He has recently moved into a secondary role at Deepcut PCRF, expanding his clinical experience.
Sgt (SI) Glass arrived in January 19 from the JSSERI Course and was shown the ropes for a short introduction before jumping right in to take over and assist with the recruits’ rehabilitation. While learning his role he has maintained his high standards in football, retaining his place in the RAPTC, Army and UKAF teams.
Forward ERI Sgt (SI) Duffin
Sgt (SI) Duffin is one of the first ERIs to undertake Forward ERI with 1 IRISH Guards, starting the post in August 2018. He has implemented new processes and redesigned the way in which the IRISH Guards conduct rehabilitation to ensure they use the full capability of their new ERI post. This includes briefing the CoC on various meetings and educating them on the role of an ERI while conducting staff training to the AAPTIs to teach injury prevention measures. Sgt (SI) Duffin has set up functional rehabilitation classes while taking on the role of tracking and managing level one and two PT for the Bn. He has also been very proactive in the support of the unit with organising DOFit courses to encourage healthy lifestyle changes.
It has been a very busy time for 1 IRISH Guards conducting various exercises alongside their commitment to ceremonial duties and it doesn’t stop there. They are now ramping up their training in line with the APTS to prepare for operations later this year. Although this poses a challenge for patients to spend time concentrating on their rehabilitation, the CoC have been very understanding. Sgt (SI) Duffin ensures that class therapy sessions are available five days a week with a system in place for individuals that cannot make these timings due to work commitments.
PCRF RMAS
It is both SSgt (SSI) Rowley’s and Sgt (SI) Spence’s second year on assignment at RMAS. Lucknow platoon continues to go through peaks and troughs with regards to the number Officer Cadets (OCdts) they see daily. This consists of a vast array of injuries in Lucknow from stress fractures, shoulder subluxations,
ACL or other knee injuries and even Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries (MTBIs). The rehabilitation department at RMAS works closely with the MO and med centre for all cases of MTBIs which involves the facilitation of a Graduated Return to Training (GRTT) protocol. The protocol follows a 3-stage process of a suggested activity that the patients follow and must be symptom free for at least 24 hours prior to progression onto the next stage. Once all stages are complete, the patient is then cleared to re-integrate into a normal PT programme.
The rehabilitation department have also set up a 12 Week Modular DOfit Programme for permanent staff at RMAS. The participants on course range from Pte to Lt Col from all departments and is delivered on Monday afternoons, instead of the intensive 5-day residential courses delivered in other locations. This allows the participants to attend the course without taking up too much time out of their normal day to day business. The intention is to run bi-annual DOfit course in Jan and Sept with an additional ‘walk in clinic’ available for anyone in between these dates to enable them to meet up, discuss ideas, self-monitor BCMs and provide some 1-2-1 if required. They have recently purchased some Myzone belts via ECOPF which have been extremely useful for boosting motivation among the group and allowing them to monitor their daily physical activities. It also provides the instructors with real time feedback of their activity levels and gives them a chance to provide some encouragement via social media or through the Myzone APP itself.
The PCRF has recently had an uplift of equipment, which includes 14 new Watt bikes, safety squat bars and plyometrics equipment enhancing their ability to deliver high level rehabilitation to the OCdts.
Outside PCRF life both SSgt (SSI) Rowley and Sgt (SI) Spence have continued with their individual fitness passions. Having been a bit of a Calamity Jane this year, SSgt Rowley has in a way been cautious and avoided any high-level Jujitsu competitions. That said, he still managed to prove his worth, gaining his Purple belt in Brazilian Jujitsu just before Christmas. The team at PCRF RMAS were very pleased for him and even made him a cake, which, due to his religious calorie counting he dutifully watched them all eat.
Sgt (SI) Spence has not yet managed to break her CrossFit habit and has competed at 2 international CrossFit Competitions this year, taking an 8th as an individual at the European Championships and a 2nd as a Team at Strength in Depth, narrowly missing out on
Sgt (SI) Spence
a chance to go the CrossFit Games. Despite her proclamations she no longer does cardio and her fear of anti-gains, she has been coerced into taking part in both the Inter Corps Cycling and the Inter Corps Cross-Country. She is looking forward to her revenge, hopefully involving the RAPTC Ladies in some Power Lifting later this year.