Award

According to the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Human Performance is the greatest asset and continues to be for the people who serve our country. Through biological and cognitive research, we ensure the warfighter’s training and readiness. Every technology we develop is designed with human capabilities in mind. Musculoskeletal injuries cost the DoD over one billion dollars annually and are a leading threat to warfighter readiness—with 40% of men, 60% of women experiencing a musculoskeletal injury in basic military training alone, specifically experiencing preventable joint pain, back pain, sprains and strains, where injured trainees are 3x more likely to be discharged. Likewise, optimizing critical skills training without overtraining or increasing injury risk is critical to warfighter lethality, resiliency, and overall troop readiness but has been impractical with traditional training methods. We believe technology development under this effort could contribute to future mission need fulfillment. The 341st Medical Group has a National Defense mission need in the area of human performance, specifically optimizing training, decreasing the risks of musculoskeletal injury, and management of chronic pain. The mission impact of this project on the DAF and DoD will be robust neuromuscular reeducation leading to increased power, lasting endurance and resiliency, and better coordination and kinesthetic awareness. It also allows the ability for a user to repeat motion with less effort and concentration for extended periods and allows users to achieve maximum force in a desired direction due to the relaxation of antagonistic muscles. The Neuropak transitions users away from inefficient training methods and development of poor habits, instead developing optimized biomechanics and neuromuscular education to maximize strength, endurance, and resiliency The NeuroPak has been clinically tested to improve all ranges of motion and enhances posture by intrinsic stabilization of the core and spine. Injury rehabilitation using the Neuropak allows the nervous system to be reconditioned towards safe movement patterns allowing the neuromuscular system to trust the safe pattern again and ultimately leading to reduced incidents of reinjury.