November 1, 2023
The Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF), in collaboration with the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC) and the Department of Defense’s (DoD) U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command’s (USAMRDC) Military Operational Medicine Research Program (MOMRP), announced it has awarded $1.3 million to the consortium of Articulate Labs, the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (HJF), the Keller Army Community Hospital (KACH).
The award will provide non-dilutive funding for a study evaluating the use of Articulate Labs’ novel KneeStimTM devices at KACH to speed return to duty for Cadets recovering from anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) surgery, all of which will be facilitated by HJF.
Knee injuries are prevalent among active-duty servicemembers, accounting for 22 percent of all musculoskeletal injuries. Of these injuries, ACL tears present a substantial health challenge, necessitating extended recovery periods typically spanning 6-12 months when treated surgically. Many servicemembers are at high risk for reinjury due to incomplete post-op rehabilitation, often due to limited access to physical therapy services. Developing a wearable device to accelerate physical rehabilitation with less cost and clinician oversight addresses an unmet need and aligns with MTEC’s mission to facilitate prototype advancement of technologies that protect, treat, and optimize the health and performance of U.S. military service personnel.
Led by Dr. Shawn Gee, an active-duty Orthopaedic Surgeon, the study at KACH will recruit 60 post-ACLR patients to wear KneeStimTM devices during rehabilitation and daily activities and will commence in February 2024.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, the U.S. government, or HJF.
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About Articulate Labs
Articulate Labs is a medical device company developing wearable technology to augment and restore muscle function through movement-synchronous electrical muscle stimulation. Articulate Labs’ first device, KneeStimTM, is a light, low-profile device that uses neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) to dynamically stimulate quadriceps muscles in sync with regular activity, accelerating rehabilitation by strengthening and training muscles with each step. By providing muscle stimulation in concert with regular physical activity, KneeStim offers an opportunity to rehabilitate beyond what passive NMES use or physical therapy could do alone. For more information, visit https://articulatelabs.com, follow the company on LinkedIn or Twitter, or contact info@articulatelabs.com.
About HJF
The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc. (HJF), now celebrating its 40th anniversary, is a global nonprofit organization with the mission to advance military medicine. HJF’s scientific, administrative and program operations services empower investigators, clinicians, and medical researchers around the world to make discoveries in all areas of medicine. HJF serves as a trusted and responsive link between the military medical community, federal and private partners, and the millions of warfighters, veterans, and civilians who benefit from military medicine. For more information, visit www.hjf.org.
About Keller Army Community Hospital
Situated at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, Keller Army Community Hospital (KACH) is vital in delivering essential orthopedic healthcare services to cadets, military personnel, and their families. The hospital hosts the John A. Feagin, Jr. Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Fellowship, offering specialized training to orthopedic surgeons interested in sports medicine. Within this program, fellows engage in immersive experiences and develop specialized skills in managing sports-related injuries. For more information, visit https://keller.tricare.mil/.
About the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium
The Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium is a 501(c)(3) biomedical technology consortium that is internationally dispersed, collaborating with multiple government agencies under a 10-year renewable Other Transaction Agreement with the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command. The consortium focuses on developing medical solutions that protect, treat, and optimize the health and performance of U.S. military personnel and civilians. For more information, visit https://mtec-sc.org/.
About the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF)
An independent 501(c)3 nonprofit, OREF strives to improve clinical care and patient outcomes by advancing innovative research, developing new investigators, and uniting the orthopaedic community in promoting musculoskeletal health. The Foundation raises funds to support research on diseases and injuries of bones, nerves, muscles, and tendons and to enhance clinical care leading to improved health, increased activity, and a better quality of life for patients. For more information, visit oref.org and follow us on Twitter.
About the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command's Military Operational Medicine Research Program
The U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command's Military Operational Medicine Research Program (MOMRP) seeks to develop effective medical countermeasures against operational stressors and to prevent physical and psychological injuries during training and operations to maximize the health, performance and fitness of Service members and their Families, and support the Army Force 2025 and Beyond (F2025B) and Department of Defense (DoD) Total Force Fitness (TFF) concepts. For more information, visit https://momrp.health.mil/Pages/Main01.aspx.