First responders benefit from physical therapy that treats them like elite athletes

Expanding the program to train more first responders

The program was initially designed for rehabilitating first responders from their injuries and surgeries. It has expanded to include assessment and conditioning components to build strength and flexibility and prevent injuries. The program also incorporates Ohio State experts in nutrition, sports psychology and a wide range of physicians and specialists, including orthopedic surgeons, creating a complete medical team for the participants in the program.

Kolba currently works with members of the Columbus Division of Police and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office (FSCO), including the FSCO SWAT Unit, and has seen FBI and ATF agents in the clinic. Other members of the Sports Medicine program have been trained by Kolba and work with first responders at other Ohio State physical therapy facilities throughout central Ohio.

Zach Webster, PT, DPT, coordinates the program. “The goal is to ensure that these first responders are confident they’ll hold up when they’re back on the job,” he says. “They have to return to work with 100% confidence for their safety and the safety of their team and the community, and our knowledge and team can help them get to this point.”

Kelly Henschen, PT, DPT, works with the approximately 100 firefighters and paramedics of the Mifflin Township Fire Department within the city of Gahanna. “I was interested in being part of Chris’s program right off the bat,” she says. “I’m married to a Columbus firefighter, so it’s personal for me and I’ll do anything I can to support what they do.”

The program with the Mifflin Township Fire Department includes one-on-one assessment sessions with each member of the department, followed by recommendations for strength training and injury prevention exercises they can do in their fire stations. “And, if they’re having any pain issues, we can work with them to reduce their pain and, if needed, schedule them for visits with our [Ohio State] doctors,” Henschen says. “We have a system in place to get quick access to the medical care they need.”

Improving quality of life by addressing mental and physical health

Mifflin Township Fire Chief Frederick Kauser says one of the keys to the success of the program over the past two years has been building trust between his firefighters and Henschen and her team. To build this type of relationship, the physical therapists have ridden with crews and taken part in training exercises. Another key is bringing the program directly into the township’s fire stations.

“I’m very passionate about this,” Kauser says. “We’re motivated to prevent and reduce the impact of injuries on our firefighters’ quality of life, and what we’re seeing from this program are indications this will have a significant influence on preventing injuries and will create healthier firefighters.”

Wellness programs to address the physical and mental demands of first responders have become more important in the past decade, Kauser says.

“I would encourage every fire chief to consider adding this type of occupational and physical therapy to their firefighters’ health and safety and wellness programs.”

After an injury or surgery, Webster says, first responders initially undergo traditional physical therapy that includes load management, activity modification, structured strength progression and stability exercises that improve overall mobility and resilience. “Our physical therapists get them through the initial stages, the acute stage,” he says. “And, when they’re ready, we connect them with members of our rehabilitation and conditioning team as part of the Tactical Athlete program.”

“That’s when we hit the accelerator and apply our advanced techniques,” Kolba adds.

“An important component is building relationships and trust, being able to relay these treatment strategies in a way that resonates with this population is paramount,” Webster says.

Knode has a lot of confidence in Kolba. “He knows the right things to have us do and the level we need to get back to, and he knows how to push us to get to that point,” he says. “We need that.”

His physical therapy session ended with a series of exercises using the sled, a football-style exercise that is extremely difficult. “Ten weeks ago, I never thought I could push that sled, and now I’m doing it with extra weight on it,” Knode says. “I’m totally confident now, and that confidence will carry over to the first day back on the job.”