VETERANS
Physical Therapy for Veterans, Active Military & First Responders
Serving Those Who Serve
Whether serving our country, protecting our communities, or responding when others need help most, military personnel and first responders place extraordinary physical demands on their bodies every day.
At Forza Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine, we recognize these individuals as tactical athletes—professionals whose occupations require strength, endurance, mobility, resilience, and the ability to perform under physically demanding conditions. Their jobs demand much more than simply being pain-free; they require confidence, preparedness, and the physical capacity to respond when it matters most.
As a veteran-owned physical therapy practice, we are proud to serve veterans, active-duty military personnel, National Guard members, Reservists, law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMS professionals, and their families throughout Central Maine. We understand that every injury has consequences beyond discomfort—it can affect your career, your family, and your ability to continue serving others.
Our mission is to help you recover completely, return safely to duty or daily life, and continue doing the work that matters most.
The Demands of Service
One of the most significant differences between traditional athletes and tactical athletes is not simply the physical demands of the job—it’s the environment in which those demands occur.
A recreational athlete often has the ability to choose when and where they train, how intensely they exercise, and whether they are physically prepared to participate. Tactical athletes rarely have that luxury.
Military personnel, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and EMS professionals are called upon to perform in unpredictable, high-stress environments where physical readiness is an essential part of the job. They may be required to sprint, lift, carry, climb, crawl, or make split-second decisions under conditions of fatigue, emotional stress, environmental hazards, or life-threatening circumstances. Their performance affects not only their own safety but often the safety of their teammates and the people they serve.
At Forza Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine, we recognize that these realities shape both rehabilitation and recovery. We have cared for law enforcement officers who responded selflessly during the Lewiston mass shooting, veterans who continue to live with injuries sustained during military service, including combat-related trauma, and first responders who return to physically demanding careers after injury or surgery.
These experiences have reinforced our appreciation for the commitment, resilience, and sacrifice required of those who serve. They have also strengthened our commitment to providing thoughtful, individualized rehabilitation that prepares tactical athletes not only to recover from injury, but to return confidently to the responsibilities their professions demand.
Honoring Your Service Through Exceptional Care
Military service often leaves lasting effects on the body. Years of physical training, deployments, repetitive loading, and physically demanding occupational responsibilities can contribute to orthopedic conditions that develop gradually over time.
At Forza Physical Therapy, we’ve had the privilege of caring for veterans with a wide range of orthopedic conditions—from chronic low back pain and combat-related injuries to osteoarthritis and conditions referred through the VA Community Care Network. Regardless of how or when your injury occurred, our goal is to help you return to the active lifestyle you’ve earned through your service.
As a veteran-owned practice, serving fellow veterans is both a privilege and a responsibility that we take seriously.
Supporting Readiness and Return to Duty
Military readiness requires more than healing an injury—it requires restoring the physical abilities necessary to meet the demands of service. Each branch of military service maintains its own physical readiness standards and fitness requirements.
We work with active-duty service members, National Guard members, and Reservists recovering from training injuries, orthopedic conditions, and post-operative rehabilitation while helping them safely return to military fitness testing, field training, deployment readiness, and the physical demands of military service. We are familiar with military performance tests, such as the Army Fitness Test.
Treatment commonly addresses:
- Return-to-duty conditioning
- Running and rucking injuries
- Load carriage injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Knee injuries
- Low back pain
- Hip injuries
- Stress fractures
- Tendon injuries
- Post-surgical rehabilitation
Ready for the Demands of the Job
Law enforcement officers face unpredictable physical demands that can change in an instant.
Long hours in patrol vehicles, wearing duty belts, defensive tactics, sprinting, climbing, lifting, grappling, and physically controlling situations all place considerable stress on the body.
Our rehabilitation programs focus on restoring the strength, mobility, endurance, and confidence necessary to safely perform these demanding occupational tasks while reducing the risk of future injury.
Prepared for Every Call
Firefighters and EMS professionals perform some of the most physically demanding jobs in our communities.
Carrying equipment, climbing stairs, lifting patients, operating in confined spaces, and working under physically and emotionally stressful conditions require exceptional physical preparation.
Our rehabilitation programs emphasize restoring movement, building strength, improving endurance, and preparing first responders to safely return to the unique demands of emergency response. Our clinicians are familiar with the Firefighter Physical Performance Test (FPPT) and the research supporting the physical demands required of today’s firefighters.
Why They Choose Forza
Those who serve others deserve healthcare providers who understand the importance of preparation, teamwork, and accountability.
At Forza Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine, you’ll receive:
- A commitment to helping you return stronger, safer, and more confident
- One-on-one care with the same physical therapist throughout your recovery
- Evidence-based orthopedic and sports medicine rehabilitation
- Individualized treatment plans designed around your occupational demands
- Return-to-duty and performance-focused rehabilitation
- Collaboration with physicians and healthcare providers
- Clear communication and patient education
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you treat active-duty military, National Guard, and Reserve members?
Yes. We routinely care for active-duty military personnel, National Guard members, and Reservists recovering from orthopedic injuries, training-related conditions, surgery, and overuse injuries. Because Forza Physical Therapy is veteran-owned, we are proud to participate in the VA Community Care Network as a preferred outpatient physical therapy provider. Rehabilitation is individualized to support a safe return to military training and occupational demands.
Do you work with veterans?
Absolutely. As a veteran-owned practice, we are proud to serve fellow veterans throughout Central Maine. In fact, because Forza Physical Therapy is veteran-owned, we are a preferred outpatient physical clinic for the VA. Whether your condition is related to military service or simply reflects an active lifestyle, we’ll develop a treatment plan based on your goals and needs.
Do you treat police officers, firefighters, and EMS professionals?
Yes. We understand the unique physical requirements of these professions and develop rehabilitation programs designed to restore the strength, endurance, movement, and confidence necessary to safely return to duty.
Do I need a referral?
If you are a veteran using VA health care, a referral is necessary. This will require your VA provider to send us a referral. Once received, we can typically get you scheduled for a visit within a week.
If you have commercial insurance, you may begin physical therapy through Direct Access (link to Direct Access info) without first obtaining a physician referral. If additional medical evaluation or coordination is needed, we’ll help guide you through the process.
Thank You for Your Service
Whether you’ve served our country, protected our communities, or answered the call when others needed help, we appreciate the dedication and commitment your profession requires.
It would be our privilege to help you recover, restore your confidence, and continue doing the work—and living the life—that matters most.
Schedule an evaluation today and discover how individualized, evidence-based physical therapy can help you return to serving at your highest level.
