Are you a first responder, such as a police officer, paramedic, or firefighter? In your line of work, you’re most likely on your feet all day, every day, or performing strenuous activities and movements that might be taking a toll on your overall health. If you’ve developed a painful chronic condition or suffered an injury on the job, you could benefit from seeing a physical therapist on a regular basis.
Many people think that a physical therapist can only be helpful in cases of injury or post-surgical complications, but this isn’t true. Physical therapy is a great method of combating aches and pains that come along with the physical demands of being a first responder.
Call Elliott Physical Therapy in Dorchester, Easton, Hanover, Hingham, Mansfield, Milton, Needham, North Attleboro or South Boston today to learn more about physical therapy and how it can be beneficial for individuals in your line of work. Our therapists are here to help!
The risk of injuries for first responders
First responders tend to put their bodies through immense amounts of stress and pressure while performing their jobs. These individuals are typically always on the go, jumping from one emergency to the next, which puts them at a higher risk of sustaining a painful injury than someone who might work a desk job.
For example, according to Dugan Associate’s website, “In fire fighting situations, the most common injuries to firefighters are: Overexertion and strains (28% of fireground injuries) Falls, slips, jumps (18% of fireground injuries) Exposure to fire products, such as smoke inhalation and burns (17% of fireground injuries.)”
Police officers are also at a higher risk of sustaining these kinds of injuries while on the job:
- “Traumatic brain injuries.
- Spinal cord damage.
- Bruises and contusions.
- Sprains and strains.
- Broken bones.
- Cuts and lacerations.
- Chemical burns.
- Overexertion.” (Pinder Plotkin)
of fireground injuries
Medics and EMS workers typically suffer from overexertion, falls, slips, and injuries sustained through assaults or violence.
All of these injuries call for the expertise of an Elliott Physical Therapy physical therapist, especially if you’re dealing with lasting pain that is keeping you from being able to perform your job.
Common injuries
Elliott Physical Therapy in Dorchester, Easton, Hanover, Hingham, Mansfield, Milton, Needham, North Attleboro and South Boston, MA is proud to offer physical therapy programs for our patients who are first responders. In addition to providing our patients with customized treatment plans to combat their pain condition, we offer fit-for-duty training, screening for functional movement, and agility testing.
Sprains and strains are among the many common injuries sustained by firefighters, police officers, and other individuals who often have to run or jump over obstacles while on the job. A sprain occurs when a ligament is stretched too far or torn, while a strain occurs when a muscle or tendon is stretched too far. Both of these injuries should be checked out by a medical professional to ensure no lasting damage will occur. A physical therapist can help to alleviate pain and lower your chances of having lasting effects from sprains or strains.
Chronic headache pain is another common ailment that Elliott Physical Therapy physical therapists can help you to deal with. Experiencing migraine headaches often may be the result of having to work around flashing lights or loud noises on the job. It can be hard to live with this kind of pain, not to mention, headaches make it nearly impossible to perform at your highest level during work hours.
Other common first responder injuries/pain conditions that our clinic can help treat are back pain, neck pain, foot and ankle pain, overuse injuries, scarring, dizziness, gait, and balance issues.
What should I expect with physical therapy?
If you’ve never had physical therapy before, rest assured that it’s nothing to be afraid of.
The goal of your physical therapist at Elliott Physical Therapy will be to assess your body’s condition and create a personalized treatment plan for you. This plan will be aimed at relieving any ongoing pain you experience while teaching, as well as educating you on how to prevent this pain from coming back time after time.
Everyone’s needs are different depending on their physical state. There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach to health and wellness because one treatment plan may not work for one person but not for another. You may be asked to perform basic movements such as sitting, standing, walking, lifting, stretching, or other motions during your initial evaluation.
A treatment plan will then be tailored specifically for you and your rehabilitation, most likely including targeted workouts, manual therapy, and patient education to help minimize the levels of pain experienced in the future. In many cases, our patients are able to receive complete relief from their discomfort.
Your Elliott Physical Therapy physical therapist will work closely with you to evaluate your mobility, balance, range of motion, and severity of pain. Your physical goals will also be taken into account when creating your treatment plan, as well as any health risks that may be holding you back.
Call us today for an appointment
As a first responder, you know that your job requires you to jump into action at the drop of a hat. In order to be able to do this, your body needs to perform at its optimum level. If you’re living with chronic pain, this can place restrictions on your ability to help those in need.
Here at Elliott Physical Therapy, we want to thank you for your dedication to keeping others safe and out of harm’s way by addressing your pain problems. We appreciate your hard work, and we’ll help in any way we can. Call our clinic today to schedule an appointment.
Your Next Steps…
Request An Appointment
Come in for a Comprehensive Evaluation
Receive A Custom Treatment Plan
Work Hard and Progress In Your Recovery
Recover & Enjoy Life Pain-Free!
