Helping AZ Firefighters

Approximately every 19 seconds in the U.S., firefighters jump to action at the sound of an alarm. They rarely know the dangers that await them, but they are focused on one goal: saving lives.

Nearly every firefighter is affected by a painful and sometimes, life-changing injury at some point in their career. While these men and women work so hard to protect others, who helps them in their time of need?

The answer for the Mesa Fire Department in Arizona is: Steve Tobler. A physical therapist and facility manager for Physiotherapy Associates’ Tobler Clinic, Tobler began serving the department about 13 years ago when firefighters began seeing him for injuries sustained on the job.

Tobler began to develop a relationship with some of the captains, and has consulted with and volunteered his services to the department ever since. Today, he helps more than 450 firefighters recover from and prevent injuries associated with their physically demanding careers.

He and his team evaluate every firefighter’s physical well-being annually. They ask about aches and pains: what hurts? where? If an injury is found, standard procedure follows with tissue tests and specialized physicians. However, many times Tobler can offer stretching and exercise suggestions that help ease their pain.

Common treatments range from burn recovery to post-operative joint-dislocation surgery. Tobler not only helps firefighters recover from injuries, but provides tips and suggestions on how to prevent them. He recently organized an exercise manual to help them condition the most highly used areas of their bodies.

“Firefighters not only lift their own bodies, but they have to lift others’ as well,” Tobler said. “They crawl in small spaces and carry around heavy equipment every day. We try to evaluate the most physically strenuous aspects of their jobs and provide treatments that meet their unique needs.”

Tobler and his team have made such a difference in firefighters’ lives that the department has invited them to join them on the job. Once a year, Tobler and his team of therapists stay at the station and respond to calls with firefighters. During ride-alongs, they monitor firefighters’ movements, including how they handle their equipment and their method of jumping out of the truck wearing their heavy gear.

“This gives me a better idea on how to treat our patients with a back-to-work program that involves intensely physically demanding activity,” he said. “Because firefighters are so active, their injuries are just like sports injuries.”
So the next time you hear a fire alarm and think about someone’s life being saved, remember that Tobler and his team are nearby, making sure someone is taking care of them.