When most people hear the words “terrain park” they think of either a series of obstacles in a skate park or the snow-covered ramps on a mountain slope. 

The new terrain park at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) – is neither of those.

Proposed by former WRNMMC Department of Rehabilitation Chief Dr. Charles Scoville, the terrain park rests just outside of the hospital’s Military Advanced Treatment Center, and consists of various materials. This provides another means for Walter Reed Bethesda (WRB) physical therapists to simulate uneven terrain for their amputee patients without having to go to specific destinations to do so. 

“The terrain park was built in order to assist wounded service members with their rehabilitations goals.  With the varying surfaces it simulates different environments the service member may be in while using their injured limbs,” explained Army Capt. Nicole Brown, MATC Officer-in-Charge. “For instance, there is sand to simulate going to the beach/dessert, rocks to simulate hiking, varying wood/grass/rubber surfaces to simulate various surfaces they will encounter just living life.

Patients will use the terrain park to build confidence on traversing various types of uneven terrain including  – sand, stones, artificial turf, plastic decking, non-skid and small pebbles.

“The obstacle course has helped me practice and manage the control of my movement and balance. I like that it has different terrains to practice to get a sensation of how a certain terrain would feel and how much control you have with the prosthesis,” said Army Spc. Deborah Perez, a Walter Reed Bethesda patient. “The hardest obstacle course panel would have to be the one with the big rocks since it's a constant change of placement due to the different sizes and shapes. The easiest I would have to say it's the panel with the black foam like textured floor. It feels smooth and it's less pressure on the limb when walking through it.”

According to Brown, an amputee patient would be introduced to the terrain park after they have mastered walking in the parallel bars and then mastered walking on even ground. 

“I know it's helped me get a better placement of my prosthesis so I won't end up falling or injuring myself,” added Perez. “I believe the more and more practice that I receive in the obstacle course will help me trust my prosthesis and where it goes without having that little bit of fear of falling over.”

Although just opened in August, physical therapists and patients plan to take full advantage of the terrain park more to support WRB patients as they return to their lives.