War: Helping Not Hurting

A deployment can have several effects on a Marine and after returning home, the recovery process isn't always an easy or fast one.

The Warrior Athlete Rehab Program is a program for Marines belonging to the Wounded Warrior Battalion – East at Camp Lejeune. It began in February 2008 and is a referral base reconditioning program and solely voluntary.

"We want to take Marines from a de-conditioned state to a reconditioned state," said Dr. Ginger Gold, program manager with the Wounded Warrior Battalion – East. "When Marines are injured they move from a fit state to an unfit state and that affects the Marines' health both physically and mentally."

When Marines are injured and are unable to continue with their daily workout routine, they tend to loose muscle mass and gain weight as they slowly fall out of the physical standards they once held themselves to.

To help with this problem and transition back to working out regularly, the WAR program uses several activities to help with increasing muscle strength and cardio function and decreasing body fat; activities such as aquatics, cycling, equine, golf, rowing/kayaking, yoga, biofeedback, and strength and conditioning.

"Exercise affects the brain," said Gold. "Aerobic exercise increases the growth of brain tissue. It's important to get the brain working right away, helping them to focus on the activities."

All the activities available are individualized for the Marines' particular physical needs.

"The WAR program works hand in hand with a physician," said Gold. "With the program, we want to help with reduce the number of medications the Marines are taking."

Since the program took effect in the beginning of 2008, approximately 50 Marines participate weekly.

It's helped Marines with losing weight, reducing fears, improving balance, increasing confidence, as well as a positive overall mood change, said Gold. They've improved their sleep efficiency and gone from being severely depressed and anxious to a minimal.

Although the program is centered for the wounded warriors, spouses are able to participate in certain activities with their loved one.

There are three ways to get into the program, by either self referral, referral by the Marine's command or referral by the Marine's physician.

For more information about the WAR program contact Dr. Ginger Gold at 449-9577.