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STRONG LAB

About the STRONG Lab

The STRONG Lab is a premier exercise science facility with a mission to develop, validate, and transition human performance technologies to optimize military fitness. The lab, part of AFRL’s 711th Human Performance Wing, Human Effectiveness Directorate, is located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Focused on advanced exercise science and real-world application, the STRONG Lab aims to create a bridge between cutting-edge research and the dynamic needs of military human performance teams. These teams, comprising strength coaches, dietitians, athletic trainers, physical therapists, cognitive/mental health providers, and other specialists are STRONG Lab’s primary customers to whom the lab caters its research and products.

To facilitate product development and transition, the STRONG Lab fosters strategic collaborations with academia and commercial industry to ensure that technology development and transition aligns closely with the real-world challenges and objectives that embedded military teams face. The STRONG Lab partners with the U.S Space Force, U.S. Special Operations Command, Naval Health Research Center, DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory, and others.
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AFRL/RH Leadership

    

Facilities

STRONG Lab has state-of-the-art facilities, advanced equipment, and skilled professionals. The lab’s 5,000 sq. ft. footprint is equipped with an array of equipment designed to optimize human performance through fitness and recovery interventions. The lab features:
 
  • 10 full squat racks equipped with plates, dumbbells, suspension band, etc.
  • An ecosystem of software applications for training and nutrition prescription, feedback, and physio-behavioral assessment.
  • A suite of wearable sensors for all research participants to monitor training load, recovery, and sleep.
  • A comprehensive selection of cardio training equipment, including treadmills equipped with metabolic carts.
  • A recovery suite featuring wet floatation therapy, photobiomodulation beds, cold plunge, and other state-of-the-art devices. 

The STRONG Team

A dedicated team leverages STRONG Lab facilities, emulating the skill sets of the embedded performance teams supported by the lab, including strength coaches, dietitians, athletic trainers, physical therapists, and exercise physiologists. Additional staff includes professionals essential for research objectives including engineers, data scientists, chemists, biologists, and phlebotomists. This diverse blend of expertise equips the lab with the comprehensive capabilities necessary to fulfill Department of Defense (DOD) mission requirements. 

Contribution

STRONG Lab stands at the forefront of human performance research and application, driven by a commitment to innovation, scientific validation, and collaborative development. Its unique focus on embedded human performance teams coupled with the strategic utilization of a permanent cohort and state-of-the-art facilities positions AFRL’s 711th Human Performance Wing to significantly advance the field of exercise science and human performance technology. Through ongoing efforts, STRONG Lab enhances the operational effectiveness of its customers while contributing to the broader scientific understanding of human fitness and recovery.

The STRONG Cohort

The cornerstone of STRONG Lab's scientific approach is its permanent cohort of 50 to 70 Airmen and Guardians. This dedicated group trains in the facility under the expert guidance of staff, enabling the development of personalized fitness programs that align with each service member's performance profile, occupational requirements, and personal goals. Not only does this approach mimic the practice of the embedded performance teams served, but the presence of this cohort facilitates:

  • Rapid validation and optimization of new technologies and methodologies, ensuring that products are not only scientifically sound but also durable and practically effective.
  • Continuous data collection through quarterly and daily assessments, using an integrated wearable sensor package for real-time monitoring of training load, stress, recovery, and sleep.
  • Enhanced collaborative opportunities with the AFRL Human Effectiveness Directorate, Air and Space Biosciences division, providing a rich dataset for ancillary research efforts, such as biomarker discovery and novel sensor prototyping.
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