Carrick Brain Center Day 3-4

July 18, 2014 0 Comments

Carrick Brain Center Day 1

Carrick Brain Center Day 2

Day 3: Started with a warm up with Cold Laser Therapy. Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is a treatment that utilizes specific wavelengths of light to interact with tissue and is thought to help accelerate the healing process. It can be used on patients who suffer from a variety of acute and chronic conditions in order to help eliminate pain, swelling, reduce spasms and increase functionality. As well as some myofascial release in conjunction with the Cold Laser Therapy.

Then the Patient Care Advocate used the Graston Technique® to treat the trouble areas of the body after cold laser therapy had been conducted. The Graston Technique® is an innovative, patented form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization that enables clinicians to effectively break down scar tissue and fascial restrictions. The technique utilizes specially designed stainless steel instruments to specifically detect and effectively treat areas exhibiting soft tissue fibrosis or chronic inflammation. 

Then the normal rotations of Repetitive peripheral somatosensory stimulation (RPSS), Eye Movement Therapy, a ride in the Off Vertical Axis Rotational Device (OVARD), and finishing it off with 20 minutes in the ReBuilder.

When using the ReBuilder in the Veteran Relaxation room it quickly becomes a competition of who can turn theirs up higher.... However no one wishes to play that game in the OVARD. 

This rotation is conducted 3 times throughout the day with breaks in between. 

During lunch on the 3rd day Ryan Royster picked us up and we went back for another smoke session with David Vobora at the Performance Vault. 

Once we arrived we David had us conduct a dynamic warm up consisting of front/slide planques and therapy exercises that targeted each ones injuries. When we were done warming up were broken down in teams and conducted a two round circuit of:

• Prowler push down and back 225lbs
• 2 Weighted sets on the AbCoaster X20
• 180lbs chest press 15 full range repetition with 2 hands, 5 repetition with left, 5 repetition with right, finishing off with leg raises. 
• Two 100 meter run on the HiTrainer working up from 50%-100%

Once complete we conducted some cool down therapy exercises while working on balance and coordination. To finish it off David utilized a Voodoo Band to wrap my shoulder while working on it with the Rapid Release Therapy (RRT). Have to say this gave me more range of motion than I have had in years. 

Day 4: Started this morning with a cup of coffee and an hour long session with the counselor. Carrick likes to have each Veteran going through the program to meet with a counselor for an hour twice a week while you are going through the program. This is not mandatory but strongly suggested and you are able to discuss whatever you would like. Your discussion with the counselor does not have to be about your past military experiences. What is interesting about counseling in this environment is that because they are tied in with Carrick they are looking at the whole picture of health and do not prescribe to the typical practice of dropping 4 bottles of pills in your lab as you walk out the door. 

After the morning talk, I was right back into the therapy rotations we talked about above. Same as the past two days we conducted 3 rounds of therapy throughout the day. 

During lunch Carrick CEO Ken Beam drove a group of us to Guy Mezger's Combat Sports Club by  for some instructional work and workout. 

Once there we were greeted by Jon Camero and gave us the rundown of the gym. He handed out some boxing wraps, wrapped us up and we got started with our warm up. Starting with 5 minutes of jump rope, then two rounds 3 minutes. 

We put on the gloves and Jon ran us through a rotation of combinations.  Starting with shadow combos then moving to the bags. We progressed until we were doing rotations of 5 different strikes for sets of 5. Then Jon put us on the timer and put us through a rotation on the heavy bag.  After our skills work we recovered and proceed to a kettlebell circuit to round off the hour workout.

The guys at Guy's work with Carrick's Veterans regularly. Here is a local news piece on why and how Guy works with Veterans to get them healthy and fit. He has had his own struggles with recovering from brain injuries so he is extremely passionate about getting others where they should be. 

Also in The Raider Weekly

The New Enemy - Post Traumatic Stress

June 27, 2019 0 Comments

The word Post Traumatic Stress DISORDER is ridiculous. I understand the Post Traumatic Stress part but the DISORDER? Why? Does having PTS really mean you have a disorder. Maybe to a clinical psychologists who refer to the DSM IV to diagnose a certain mental health issue it can be a disorder. However, the word disorder used for veterans can cripple your mental stability. 

Read More

MARINE CORPS SUICIDE EPIDEMIC; ONE RET. MARINE'S SOLUTION

June 24, 2019 0 Comments

I hope this letter reaches you in relative peace. I am Fritz Sleigher and just retired out of MARSOC after 22 years in our beloved Corps. Thank you for the retirement note. I served as an 02, 0369, 0311, and 0317 with a smattering of other MOS’ at various units. I retired as a Gunny, which will come into play shortly. I watched your video and feel your pain. Although we have never met, I am certain that you feel each loss of life and are just as confused as to why Marines are taking their lives at an alarming rate. I’ll never understand the monumental burden of command you bear, but I am certain we both share the feeling of loss, guilt, and confusion after each suicide. The BLUF on suicide is this: The current culture of the Corps conflicts with itself and creates an environment where those in need feel even more secluded. I re-posted your article on FB, and several peers (recently retired enlisted combat vets) sing the same tune: The Corps let them down.

Read More

Finding Your New Tribe - The Calling

May 06, 2019 0 Comments

This month is Military Caregiver's Month. Hannah Honsberger is a Raider wife with an amazing story of restoration. After her husband's life altering static line crash, Hannah rushed to Josh's side to help him through the debilitating injury that pulled him from his life's purpose and mission as an operator. But that is only the beginning of their story.

Read More