Spring 2008, Volume 11, Issue 1

DOD Contract with the Neuromuscular Research Laboratory

by Scott M. Lephart, PhD, ATC
Project Principal Investigator

The Neuromuscular Research Laboratory (NMRL) is the applied research facility for the Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh and is housed within the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. Since 1990, the NMRL has initiated and continues to be highly recognized for research in the area of proprioception and neuromuscular control. Past and present NMRL research has focused on answering clinically relevant questions regarding the mechanism of joint injury in athletic and physically active populations. Overall, the objective of the NMRL is to study comprehensive profiles of an individual's physical function by evaluating both the sensory and motor characteristics that are specific to deficiencies in human movement mechanics and muscle function. In turn, intervention strategies are developed to minimize injury risk and optimize performance.

Awarded research grants totaling $4.8 million from the United States Department of Defense to study and develop models for injury prevention and performance optimization in soldiers of the Army 101st Airborne/Air Assault (Ft. Campbell, KY) and in SEAL operators of Naval Special Warfare (Little Creek, VA) are at the forefront of the NMRL activities. In addition, there is approximately $7 million of funding under consideration for the continuation of these two programs and a third program to provide additional support to Air Force Special Operations.

The United States Department of Defense invests considerable resources in training and maintaining the full operation of its elite soldiers. Unintentional, musculoskeletal injuries during tactical operation training and combat are a principal health concern within the military. Unintentional, musculoskeletal injury rates in military personnel parallel those of competitive athletes due to similar training and physical demands placed on both the elite athlete and tactical athlete. These tasks include running, cutting, jumping, and landing during rigorous physical training, obstacle course runs, repelling, parachuting, and tactical operations. Undoubtedly, the expertise of the NMRL is an appropriate fit in the US Department of Defense strategy to reduce the overall injury rate as we apply the sports medicine models to the military.

Unintentional, musculoskeletal injuries have been reported to result from suboptimal biomechanical, musculoskeletal, and physiological characteristics. The NMRL has demonstrated that many of the suboptimal characteristics can be modified through the application of specialized intervention strategies tailored to prevent these injuries. Given the vigorous demands of combat and training, and the prevalence of unintentional, musculoskeletal injury in soldiers of the Army 101st and SEAL operators warrants the introduction of a preemptive injury prevention and performance enhancement training program. The NMRL has been awarded duties to first identify and second modify biomechanical, musculoskeletal, physiological, and nutritional risk factors that are known to contribute to injury.

These projects are designed to provide a scientific approach to identify underlying risk factors to preventable musculoskeletal injuries, quantify physiological and metabolic demands of training, develop evidence-based injury prevention and performance optimization protocols, prospectively validate effectiveness to reduce injury, and in the long-term reduce injuries to enhance combat readiness.

Ultimately, the NMRL projects that soldiers in the Army 101st Airborne/Air Assault and SEAL operators will demonstrate improved safety and enhanced military readiness. This in turn will result in decreased time lost due to disability, personnel attrition, and financial burden associated with medical expenses and disability compensation. The NMRL research initiative for the Army 101st and Navy SEALS will meet the collective desire of the Army Commanders and Naval Special Operations Forces Commanders to strategically maximize human capital, sharpen battlefield performance, extend the operational service life of the soldier and operator, and enhance wellness of the soldier and operator after service. Development of a task and demand-analysis-based, empirically supported, and strategic injury prevention and human performance initiative will be the benchmark for all current and future components of Army Air Assault and Naval Special Warfare.