Specialized Physiotherapy Program Helps First Responders

Be they EMS, fire, or police, first responders all do physical work that puts them at risk of experiencing serious injuries on a regular basis. This is why the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (OSUWMC) in Columbus, Ohio has developed a new Tactical Rehab and Conditioning Program specifically tailored to first responder needs. This program is one of the few available nationally to help first responders address their specific on-the-job injuries and provide them with preventative exercise routines to avoid similar injuries in the future.

"We see a lot of injuries among first responders to shoulders, knees, ankles, and other areas of the body from the physical demands of their job," says Chris Kolba, the OSUWMC physical therapist who developed the Center’s Tactical Rehab and Conditioning Program. "They have very demanding jobs and can often be in life-or-death situations, so preparing their bodies and minds the best we can to deal with that is extremely important."

How the Program Works

In the first phase of treatment under the Tactical Rehab and Conditioning program, first responder patients are interviewed to compile their medical histories, and their physical injuries are assessed by Kolba. Next, an individualized exercise-based treatment regimen is designed for each of them, which is administered under the supervision of OSUWMC staff.

This regimen includes physical training drills based on advanced strengthening, carrying, climbing, wrestling, and other moves that mimic how first responders move on the job every day. By tweaking each regimen to align with individual patients’ job-specific needs, OSUWMC’s physical therapists help these first responders develop the strength, flexibility, endurance, and skills to tackle the physical obstacles and tasks they encounter at work without injury.

“Our goal is to consider what first responders need to get back to work safely in terms of being able to run and climb over things, deal with heavy lifting and moving, and, if necessary, deal with physical altercations with people,” explains Kolba. “Providing them with a combination of advanced strength and conditioning routines along with combat/wrestling drills allows these patients to go back to their jobs feeling a hundred percent confident to deal with them.”

“I had a pretty extensive background in martial arts, and I thought, ‘well, here's a great way to integrate that knowledge base that I have and make it useful for these folks by breaking it down into drills and skills’,” he adds. “I just put two and two together and just started incorporating these things into my patients’ rehab.”

First Responder Physio in Action

Columbus Police Sergeant Joseph Riddle is a Tactical Rehab and Conditioning Program graduate. He came to the OMUWMC program after undergoing total shoulder replacement surgery on both shoulders in 2021 and 2022, due to years of on-the-job injuries and physical stress.

It was the replacements done by OSUWMC orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine physician

Dr. Julie Bishop who freed Sgt. Riddle from years of chronic pain. But it was his physiotherapy with Kolba under the Tactical Rehab and Conditioning Program after each surgery that got him back to work — feeling stronger and healthier today than he ever had before.

"If you don't maintain a strong, physical body in this job, you're compromising yourself, your safety, and the safety of the public," said Riddle. "It's important that you, as the first responder, make sure your body is prepared for what you're doing for a living."

More Than Just Physio

Beyond providing physical therapy and training, OSUWMC’s Tactical Rehab and Conditioning Program can provide first responders with access to sports medicine doctors, nutritionists, psychologists, and other specialists throughout their careers. This allows EMS, fire, and police officers to maximize their overall health and well-being while reducing their chances of injury and speeding recovery from any injuries that do occur.

At the same time, the OSUWMC team is conducting research among first responders to study and remedy job-specific injuries more effectively. This includes head and blast impact, the impact of the gear first responders wears on the job, and their vision/reaction times pre- and post-fatigue.

Going forward, Chris Kolba and his OSUWMC teammates plan to share the Tactical Rehab and Conditioning Program with healthcare institutions nationwide. Their goal is to build a medical care model that benefits first responders across the country.

As for his medical advice to first responders outside of Ohio who want to maximize their health and reduce their chances of work-related injuries?

“I think the biggest thing is to have a physician that you can build a good relationship with over time, and have access to the physiotherapy you need,” Kolba replies. “And if you’re not in our service area, be sure to get checked properly anytime you do get injured and get help from a sports medicine expert to develop a training program that will keep you fit and able to deal with the physical demands of the job.”