1109 Bravo — a Louisville-based veteran-owned startup developing human performance training equipment — was recently awarded two Air Force Research Lab AFWERX STTR grants totaling $1.5 million.
The funding will be used to study the NeuroPak’s impact on job-related performance and training, reduction of musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries, management of chronic pain and reduction in post-injury rehabilitation time, according to a news release.
The grant will also fund development and integration of sensors to collect biomechanical and performance data. Studies will be conducted in partnership with the University of Cincinnati and Purdue University’s Biomedical/Mechanical Engineering programs. These contracts are the fourth and fifth grants awarded to 1109 Bravo in partnership with AFWERX AFRL to continue developing adaptations that help solve national defense needs.
The NeuroPak was invented by 1109 Bravo founder and U.S. Marine veteran Chris Tedesco. The first product of its kind in the human performance training category and a force multiplier to traditional training techniques, the NeuroPak was created as a solution to accelerate skill proficiencies for service members compared to standard protocols, the release continued.
By accelerating neuromuscular adaptations and queuing proper biomechanics, the NeuroPak allows individuals to train in the simulated environments and dynamic conditions they will face in real-world scenarios during combat deployment.
Tedesco — who experienced and understands the physical and mental impacts of training and combat — utilized a human-centered design approach to develop a wearable neuromuscular training system that intuitively cues the body to achieve correct postural alignment and balance, improving physical performance and reducing the potential for injury.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be selected by ADWERX/Air Force Research Lab to further study benefits, applications and opportunities offered via the NeuroPak,” Tedesco said in the release. “Using human-centered design as the foundation, the NeuroPak aligns with Department of Defense and U.S. Special Operations Command human performance initiatives to improve warfighter readiness and lethality while aiding in injury prevention and health and fitness standards. While initially developed for use by the military, the NeuroPak shows promise in addressing additional challenges faced by other industries, including physical and occupational therapy, neurology and athletics.”
The training device maximizes performance of mechanics across all movement patterns, ultimately improving skill development, resiliency and operational readiness. Whether completing tactical, technical or logistical tasks, the NeuroPak accelerates critical skill-based proficiencies while improving biomechanics — resulting in more efficient training in less time, improving performance and significantly reducing the risk of injury, the release said.
When measured in a previous study utilizing an FDA-approved and DoD-validated motion analysis system, the NeuroPak proved to increase mobility, stability and performance, reduce vulnerability to injury by 30.3% and reduce asymmetries by 58% after just one use.
“By studying which features of motor learning and musculoskeletal development are instrumental in the effects seen from the NeuroPak, we are discovering how it improves human motion to maximize performance potential among Air Force personnel,” said Dr. Laura Blumenschein, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, Purdue University, in the release.
The college has an ongoing partnership with 1109 Bravo and is working with the company on one of two ADWERX grant studies. Dr. Deva Chan, assistant professor of biomedical engineering, Purdue University and Dr. Chad Carroll, associate professor of health and kinesiology at Purdue University, are also involved in the study.
The University of Cincinnati research team is being led by Dr. Eric Naumann, director of the school’s Human Injury Research and Regenerative Technologies (HIRRT) Laboratory.
