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plough their trade at PCRF Pirbright alongside Sgt (SI) Briggs (now at PCRF Minley) and SSgt (SSI) Kev Bell. With the constant ow of a diverse and challenging Phase 1 patient base the staff at PCRF Pirbright have found the role both challenging and rewarding. The vast array of musculo-skeletal injuries present the ERIs with opportunities to showcase and enhance their skills and knowledge acquired from the ERI course, as well as previous experiences. To assist with keeping their ‘sanity’, the ERI staff have taken to pushing themselves within their personal hobbies and interests; achieving signi cant success in each. SSgt Kev Bell won the rst ever British Forces Cyprus Road Race in Sep 15, whilst also contributing to the very successful RAPTC Indoor Rowing team at the European Indoor Rowing Championships in Hungary (Jan 16); placing 5th in his age group over 2 km and gained a winners medal in the Masters team category. Sgt Briggs won the ATC (P) 70.3 Iron Man distance triathlon in Sep 15, raising a great deal of money for the Army Benevolent Fund. He’s consistently inside the top ten competitors at the Regional Cross Country league events and is targeting the Army Cross Country team in 2016. Sgt Spence has had some good success competing at a wide range of CrossFit competitions, both at national and international level. Her efforts and dedication to her training resulted in a rst place nish at the Battle of the Beasts CrossFit competition in Oct 15. Overall a very busy but very productive and rewarding year for PCRF Pirbright as they look forward to the next 12 months.
PCRF Minley saw the start of Sgt (SI) Briggs’ 2nd tour as an ERI in Jan 16. Having just completed a 3 year post at PCRF Pirbright, he was eager to take on sole responsibility as the gurehead of all things musculo-skeletal rehab within the PCRF. 3 RSME is a Phase 2 training establishment comprising of Phase 2 (Cbt Engr) and Phase 3 (C3S) courses consisting of 475 trainees and 463 permanent staff. The PCRF itself is well equipped with a mixture of both CV and resistance equipment as well as excellent facilities like the Unit’s own 25m swimming pool and CV suite just a stones throw away. 3 RSME is an extremely busy environment for both trainees and staff due to the high in ux of courses. Engineer Phase 2 and 3 training demands a higher level of physical robustness than some of the other Corps. Due to this reason injuries are common and the PCRF staff are kept on their toes with a steady stream of referrals from the Med Centre. The trainees under treatment at PCRF Minley form part of Talavera Troop (Tv Tp) which is a holding troop for those removed from training due to injury; and are undergoing rehab or are in between courses. One of the challenges faced by Sgt Briggs at the PCRF is adapting his approach and exercise delivery dependant on whether the recipient is a trainee patient or permanent staff. With the former being generally keen individuals
who desperately want to get back into training and crack on with their careers, the PS tend to need more ‘buy in’ as well as the added pressure of trying to t their rehab around their primary roles. Building a rapport with each and everyone to get them to apply their rehab programmes and goal setting approach proves to be the best tool and route to getting the most out of patients. Classes are also provided for patients to try and provide structure and support for them in order to help with their recovery. Although the PCRF has undergone some signi cant changes in the past 12 months, Sgt Briggs has found his transition into his new surroundings seamless as a result of the strong foundation developed within the department by his predecessor Sgt (SI) Rowley. The challenge (self imposed) is now set for Sgt Briggs to maintain this momentum over the next 3 years as he looks forward to applying his knowledge and experience within a new patient base.
PCRF Winchester is responsible for the primary care and rehabilitation delivery to both recruits and Permanent Staff at Unit and Regional level. The recruit training is delivered over a demanding 14 weeks Common Military Syllabus and often presents an array of challenges in the form of injury types. The Rehab Troop’s (Fox Troop) rehabilitation programme has recently been updated to incorporate The Big 5 injury prevention handbook which has seen an improved structure towards early, intermediate and late rehabilitation. This introduction as well as enhancing patient ownership towards their rehab has contributed to the improvement of recruits’ motivation towards vocational PT. The PCRF played a leading role throughout a study in 2015 which reviewed gender mixed Phase 1 training, that included the management of injury prevention whilst providing injury statistical analysis. The study proved to be a tangible success as similar injury rates to that of a same sex troop were found, resulting in mixed gender training continuing in the syllabus from Mar 2016 at ATR (W). A combination of the Training Injuries Working Group lead by SSgt (SSI) A Wilson and the new ARTD PD programme has seen training injuries fall from 14% in 2014 to 10.5% in 2015. This demonstrates the need for a science based approach to training delivery, as the standard and quality of training far exceeds those previously delivered. The PCRF presents information on injury prevention to all new recruits and training teams to ensure continuity throughout training and further mitigate potential training injuries. A collaborative injury prevention scheme along with the main gym and PCRF has demonstrated that the implementation of initiatives can aid in the reduction of injuries. The staff at PCRF Winchester now look forward to seeing the changes unfold over the next year along with the progressions made with the next mixed troop during the training syllabus.
REGIONAL REHABILITATION UNIT TIDWORTH
The Wessex Region WO2 (QMSI) D Cox RAPTC
It has been another demanding year for the provision of rehabilitation across the RRU and PCRFs within the Wessex Region and as such, the RRU is currently
delivering four in-patient courses per month. As the Regional Trade Specialist Advisor (RTSA) I am very proud of the efforts of all ERIs but in particular the RAPTC ERIs who are constantly going the extra mile by being proactive to enhance rehabilitation and the reputation of the RAPTC through their professionalism and knowledge.
The RRU inpatient rehabilitation courses aim to provide
patients with a goal based exercise rehabilitation programme so that they will be able to self-manage their injuries for up to six weeks following discharge. The courses include education on exercise technique, nutrition, pain, programme design, relaxation and the principles of training. RAPTCIs lead
the way on the gym oor at the RRU with 3 outstanding ERIs: SSgt Leng, Sgt Smith and Sgt Ellis.
SSgt Vasey (PCRF Tidworth), SSgt Bradley (14 RA), SSgt Coney (PCRF Blanford), Sgt Potter (PCRF Blanford), SSgt Price (DSEME Lyneham) and Sgt Cubbage (PCRF Warminster) are the RAPTC ERIs located in the PCRFs and they continue to offer day-to-day rehabilitation of patients around their normal duties. They strive to achieve early diagnosis and rehabilitation so that patients can be managed effectively. Also, at grassroots level, much work has been done to support local Unit Commanders to manage injured soldiers under their command.
Finally, these are likely to be my last MBS notes as I am due out of the Army early in 2017. I am very proud to have been an RAPTCI and I wish you all the very best in your careers.