New Lab To Study Sports-Related Injuries in Soldiers

By Army News ServiceMay 22, 2007

FORT CAMPBELL (Army News Service, May 22, 2007) - A new Sports Medicine Laboratory here will help researchers study sports-related injuries in military personnel during regular physical training, combat operations and recreational time.

Opened May 15, the lab will be used by the 101st Airborne Division and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

"Soldiers train and work much like elite athletes," said Mary Jo Jindra, project manager of the University of Pittsburg Medical Center, Innovative Medical Information Technology. "Soldiers should be treated and trained like elite athletes, and training should match what the job demands of them."

Two officers, two senior noncommissioned officers, two mid-level enlisted and two lower-enlisted Soldier from the 101st Abn. Div.'s 1st Brigade have been selected to participate in the first study.

Researchers will test everything from Soldiers' strength and flexibility to their lung capacity and body fat, said Col. Rusty Rowe, 101st Abn. Div. surgeon.

"If we understand the physiological demands on Soldiers and assess their training needs, we can make recommendations to improve training," he said.

More than $2.7 million is planned for research during the first two to four years of the study.

(This story is adapted from an article by Spc. Debrah Ledesma of the Fort Campbell "Courier.")