Photo By Seaman Michael Prusiecki | NAVAL BASE KITSAP-BREMERTON (June 20, 2018) Lt. Lisa Daily, from Royal Center, Indiana...... read more read more
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The whirring of exercise bikes fills the room. Medicine balls, examination tables and stress bands of assorted colors are arranged neatly along the shelves. Several voices can be heard inquiring about pain and flexibility. Filling the seats, Sailors can be seen waiting for their routine physical therapy to begin.
Since September 2017, Lt. Lisa Daily has been the physical therapy officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68).
Some of the most common ailments affecting Sailors aboard Nimitz are back pain, muscle strains, ligament sprains, joint injuries, and bone fractures. Many of these infirmities require a carefully planned regiment of treatment, and the physical therapy officer sees that treatment is administered.
A native of Royal Center, Indiana, Daily is a key player in a Sailors long journey of healing from their injuries. After receiving a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology from Ohio Northern University, she earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Indiana University. She then worked in neuromuscular rehabilitation, helping patients with strokes, brain and spinal cord injuries in a rehabilitation hospital in Indianapolis.
Her experience with various injuries while playing sports her entire life became her inspiration to pursue a career as a physical therapist.
“I was a three sport athlete in high school, and played softball in college, so I was no stranger to injuries,” said Daily. “All my time with athletic trainers and physical therapists just made me fall in love with the profession. It’s truly rewarding to get people back to fully functional health.”
After working in the civilian medical field for nearly four years, Daily said she felt indebted to serve her country.
“I just felt called to do it,” she said. “I wanted to be able to help keep active duty personnel in the fight so they can continue to serve.”
She joined the Navy in July 2015 and, after completing officer development school, she completed her physical therapy residency at Naval Hospital Jacksonville. Her first tour of duty was at the health clinic at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay.
Daily says she has felt immense satisfaction with her career thus far.
“It’s great to fix Sailors’ problems and allow them to keep doing their job and to also see the significant progress they make. I like getting to know the Sailors on a personal level and being of as much assistance as I can,” Daily said. “As long as I enjoy this and can keep making a difference, I will continue to serve and rehab injured Sailors.”
Daily said she recognizes that her physical therapy technician, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Marion Gordon, from Chicago, is instrumental in the effort to nurse Sailors back to fighting shape.
“While she does the evaluations and maps out plans of action, I handle a lot of the Sailors treatments and manual therapies, as well as managing schedules,” Gordon said. “We work very well together. She knows what I’m capable of and lets me do my job, and we’re both committed to making sure Sailors receive the best care possible.”
Electronics Technician 3rd Class Nathanial Martin, from Richmond, Va., is a frequent face in the physical therapy office.
“[Daily] has been incredibly helpful and compassionate. She takes careful consideration of the proper diagnosis and treatment of her patients. With me, she’s been extremely accommodating in all aspects of injuries and rehabilitation,” Martin said.
Now that Nimitz is in a dry dock period, Daily and her staff are taking extra measures to get involved with health promotions and education for Sailors and their families. Daily gives quarterly lectures, known as the “Wellness Series”, on exercise and well-being. Medical department is also planning a health fair later this summer to raise awareness on health and fitness.
Daily is passionate about the notion of educating Sailors and promoting anyone with injuries to resist hesitation of treatment and get their health problems taken care of.
“A healthy Sailor is able to carry out the mission. Ignoring pain or injuries can spiral out of control or limit you down the line. Injuries won’t get better unless identification and correction of the problem occurs,” said Daily.
An inherently high-risk profession, the Navy will always have Sailors that face injuries and are in need of care and rehabilitation. Rest assured, Nimitz Sailors will be able to rely on Daily to help them heal and get back into fully functional shape and continue to complete the mission.
Nimitz is conducting a docking planned incremental availability at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, where the ship is receiving scheduled maintenance and upgrades.
| Date Taken: | 06.22.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 06.22.2018 13:15 |
| Story ID: | 281948 |
| Location: | BREMERTON, WA, US |
| Web Views: | 531 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Helping Sailors Heal: Nimitz Physical Therapy Officer, by SN Michael Prusiecki, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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