WEBVTT 00:11.500 --> 00:12.730 - [Narrator] In the early morning hours, 00:12.730 --> 00:14.290 service members begin to report 00:14.290 --> 00:16.140 to the Fort Stewart Newman Fitness Center, 00:16.140 --> 00:19.483 to begin physical therapy, rehabilitation sessions, 00:19.530 --> 00:21.910 with PT and Occupational Therapy staff 00:22.100 --> 00:24.590 from US Army Medical Command Fort Stewart's 00:24.590 --> 00:26.373 Winn Army Community Hospital. 00:27.040 --> 00:29.570 Almost 110 service members warm up to prepare 00:29.570 --> 00:31.253 for the morning's rehab training. 00:31.680 --> 00:34.902 Fort Stewart active duty post-operation ortho patients 00:34.902 --> 00:36.450 are enrolled in the Stewart 00:36.450 --> 00:40.183 post-operative rehabilitation training program, or SPORT, 00:40.460 --> 00:43.023 which begin in October 2017. 00:44.170 --> 00:46.220 The goal of this three phase program 00:46.220 --> 00:49.410 is to increase soldier's readiness through the provision 00:49.410 --> 00:52.773 of standardized, high quality post-op physical therapy, 00:52.970 --> 00:55.990 while maintaining overall fitness and accountability 00:55.990 --> 00:58.600 of those who have musculoskeletal injuries. 00:58.600 --> 00:59.600 - Once you get in it, 00:59.600 --> 01:02.220 ^if you listen to what the physical therapists have to say, 01:02.220 --> 01:06.280 ^and you give 100%, and do exactly what they tell you to do, 01:06.280 --> 01:07.880 ^the recovery phase will be easy. 01:08.110 --> 01:10.690 ^But if you don't do the exercises, and listen to the things 01:10.690 --> 01:12.870 that they say, the recovery'll be hard, 01:12.870 --> 01:14.902 and you'll cause more injury to yourself, 01:14.902 --> 01:17.352 because you're just doin' it things you wanna do. 01:17.870 --> 01:19.190 - [Narrator] Major Aldo Mendoza, 01:19.190 --> 01:21.233 who heads up the SPORT program at Winn, 01:21.350 --> 01:23.883 said the benefits of the program are numerous. 01:24.190 --> 01:26.820 For one, the patients are seen doing the hours 01:26.820 --> 01:29.530 of their regularly scheduled physical training time, 01:29.530 --> 01:32.423 and because the sessions are five days a week, 01:32.530 --> 01:35.043 a successful recovery is more likely. 01:35.100 --> 01:37.180 - Instead of just goin' back and just rehabilitatin' 01:37.180 --> 01:39.083 the shoulder or the knee, for example, 01:39.250 --> 01:41.220 ^they can do a whole body workout. 01:41.220 --> 01:43.253 ^So, when they get back to the unit, 01:43.490 --> 01:45.180 ^they're in better physical shape, 01:45.180 --> 01:46.990 and they're able to do their cardio, 01:46.990 --> 01:49.890 and most of them are ready to take and pass their PE test. 01:50.313 --> 01:51.810 - [Narrator] One physical therapy assistant, 01:51.810 --> 01:55.433 Zachary Simmons, said he is tough on those in the program, 01:55.490 --> 01:57.210 but he has a passion for his craft 01:57.210 --> 02:00.023 and pushes the service members to their limits. 02:00.150 --> 02:02.303 - I love workin' with soldiers, first of all, 02:02.350 --> 02:05.720 ^so, they pretend and call me drill sergeant half the time 02:05.720 --> 02:07.090 ^'cause I'm yellin' the whole time. 02:07.090 --> 02:08.580 ^But I'm yellin' outta love and the fact 02:08.580 --> 02:10.423 ^that I'm here to get you better. 02:11.023 --> 02:14.090 I'd rather be your enemy to start off wit, 02:14.090 --> 02:15.593 so you go out and be able to do what you wanna do 02:15.593 --> 02:16.840 than be the nice guy 02:16.860 --> 02:17.820 and then you're gettin' outta here 02:17.820 --> 02:20.143 and you're still havin' issues, and that type of thing. 02:20.560 --> 02:22.630 - [Narrator] The drill sergeant qualities in Simmons 02:22.630 --> 02:26.253 is what Vaugh says he needs to help him properly, 02:26.380 --> 02:28.233 so he can return to work. 02:28.400 --> 02:30.470 - It prepares you to get back in the fight, 02:30.470 --> 02:31.773 especially for doin' PT. 02:32.320 --> 02:34.460 Push ups, sit ups, and tryin' to run again. 02:34.460 --> 02:35.580 It also try to eliminate you 02:35.580 --> 02:37.280 from goin' on a permanent profile, 02:37.520 --> 02:41.130 so that way, you can still continue to be a leader. 02:41.130 --> 02:43.180 - [Narrator] Reporting for Winn Army Community Hospital, 02:43.180 --> 02:44.463 I am Kaytrina Curtis.