OPTIMIZING Job Related Training and Performance, Decreasing the Risks of Musculoskeletal Injury, and Management of Chronic Pain through implementation of the NeuroPak Training System

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 28th Mission Support Group, in support of the 28th Bomb Wing, 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. This need spans every Air Force Specialty Code, but a few of the most tactically significant would be: Security Forces personnel who can improve reaction times and reduce strain and injuries caused by long periods of standing wearing heavy equipment; aircraft maintainers, civil engineers and logistics personnel who routinely carry and lift heavy objects; firefighters and Explosive Ordinance teams who must maintain peak performance to rescue personnel in life-threatening situations and aviators who must be able to perform under high stress conditions. Beyond these career-specific impacts, all Airmen must be able to react and perform in high-risk deployed environments where their reaction times and ability to move and assist others saves lives. This technology directly supports the resilience and readiness of all Airmen by improving performance and reducing injuries which are costly both in medical care but also loss of mission capabilities whether it be lost duty time or reduced performance. 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 or a user to repeat motions 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 has been clinically tested to improve all ranges of motion and enhances posture by intrinsic stabilization of the core and spine.