Severe combat injury rehab, military physical therapy, and return-to-duty outcomes — this episode shows PTs and clinic owners what’s possible when mindset, leadership, and clinical excellence align. If you work in private practice physical therapy, sports rehab, or performance PT, this story will change how you view “return to function.”
Ryan Hendrickson, a U.S. Army Green Beret, stepped on an IED in Afghanistan. Most service members with that level of injury medically retire. Ryan redeployed.
This episode breaks down the injury, the rehab, and the mindset that made a return to combat possible. More importantly, it highlights the role of physical therapists in changing the trajectory of someone’s life.
If you’ve ever wondered whether what you do truly matters — it does.
For busy PTs and clinic owners, this is about more than inspiration. It’s about standards. It’s about therapeutic alliance. And it’s about getting people back to their version of the fight.
Chapters
00:00 – Severe Combat Injury
05:12 – Three Branches, One Mission
14:28 – The IED Explosion
26:40 – Rebuilding After Trauma
39:55 – Climbing Hilltop 2000
49:18 – The Anti-Victim Mindset
