European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 08, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Learning to walk again sergeant on the Road to recovery after War injury a amps photos by Lynda Davidson  lost the use of his right leg in an injury during the persian Gulf War. Leg lifts Are a major part of Phillips physical therapy regimen. Capt. Steve Bullock physical therapist in Lan Stuhl Germany assists Phillips with his exercises. By Deedee Arrington Doke Kaiserslautern Bureau a Quot Richard Simmons eat your heart out a groaned , sweating and grimacing As he finished a series of simple leg lifts. A a a a. Unlike the curly topped exercise guru s followers. However Phillips was t trying to trim fat from his right a leg the limb he d been putting through its pages. A Quot the lifts were part  physical therapy regimen prescribed for the 27-year-old army sergeant to. Strengthen and restore full use of his right leg which was injured in the persian Gulf War. Phillips right  broken feb. 27 when an explosion from an unknown source rocked his Bradley fighting vehicle. The Soldier based in Karlstedt Germany also sustained nerve damage affecting his right foot in the Accident. In the latest of five surgeries Phillips had a Rod installed in his femur a Quot the largest heaviest and longest Bone in the body a that will help him walk. But Phillips must do most of the work himself in  ability to walk. And much of that work is done in daily physical therapy sessions As he paves his Road to recovery with considerable sweat and pain. Quot you can have a Beautiful surgery but without Good physical therapy afterwards you can have a poor outcome Quot said capt. Steve Bullock a physical therapist at Lan Stuhl army regional medical Center in Germany where Philiips spent three weeks. A Bullock is part cheerleader part Stern taskmaster when he guides physical therapy patients through exercises that tax their endurance in Phillips Case Bullocks guidance included some physical assistance in addition to verbal instructions on other self directed exercises. Quot we can do to people things they would t do to themselves Quot Bullock said. Quot but we have enough medical background to know when to Stop Quot at Lan Stuhl Phillips had two 1 a hour physical therapy sessions daily for two weeks. He is now on convalescent leave continuing daily therapy sessions at the army 2nd Field Hospital in Bremerhaven. Problems with his right leg include Range of motion a a weakness and gait. The nerve problem in his foot prevents the Muscles from contracting which makes. The muscle waste away. His leg is then weak and the joint has a limited Range of motion. He has Little strength in his right quadriceps hamstring and some hip Muscles because of the broken femur and the trauma of surgery. A therapy session at Lan Stuhl began with Phillips armed with crutches leaving his wheelchair for a slow uneven walk from the clinic s Entrance to a it treatment room. He must relearn How to fully pick up his leg and Bend his knee to step evenly. Quot it requires quite a bit of strength to pull up the foot and place it Back Down Quot Bullock said. One it treatment room at the Hospital has  Treadmill Stair Steps and other equipment designed to help people walk. Another exercise room has exercise bicycles. And yet another room the individual care room where Phillips spent the first part of his workout has cushioned tables where patients sit or lie Flat or Back on their elbows to work their bodies. Most of his session work focuses on forcing his right knee to Bend. A major reason for the difficulty is that the quadriceps muscle has actually shortened Over the time Between surgeries because of extended periods of keeping it straight such As in traction. ,. It hurts i was like crying Quot Phillips said added Bullock Quot he. Is to the Point where it hurts so bad to move it but it s got to move . Phillips also must strengthen hts lower right leg in which his muscle has wasted away because of the nerve injury and subsequent Lack of use during bed. Rest. He can Only feel his big toe on his right foot due also to the nerve injury. A v a a a. L a Quot a a. A his hours of physical therapy include various types of exercises aimed at strengthening his Muscles and. Increasing his Range of movement. A a a a a included in the therapy program Are isometric and isotonic exercises which Are designed to strengthen his right quadriceps and hamstring. An isometric exercise for instance requires Phillips to press his leg As hard As a a he can against the immovable resistance of Bullocks Arm. A a. V. In the exercise equipment room Bullock instructed. Phillips to sit on an exercise bicycle and Rock his feet. Back and Forth on the pedals. If Phillips does t regularly move his legs there s the possibility that blood wont. Circulate efficiently resulting in a blood clot that could. Dislodge and travel through his veins to his lungs. Each rigorous physical therapy session at Lan Stuhl brought about Small but noticeable improvements in Phillips strength endurance and Range of motion. The Day before he checked out from Lan Stuhl the Soldier was fitted with a hard plastic Brace called a _ Ankie foot Orthosis that will even his step by helping to it his foot. When Philiips returns to Lan Stuhl late this month for follow up care he should walk Well with the. A face s help. Blany months of treatment still must follow before he cd in run for now Phillips said Quot i be got to concentrate up walking Quot Phillips pulls Forward As Bullock applies resistance during a typical exercise. Page 14 the stars and stripes monday april 8,1991 the stars and stripes Page 15