West Point

This research aims to evaluate the effects of a new wearable electrical stimulation knee sleeve device called KneeStim on recovery after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The study focuses on United States Military Academy cadets aged 17 to 27 years who have undergone ACL surgery. The goal is to understand how KneeStim use influences post-operative gait, muscle mass changes, patient-reported outcomes, time to return to full duty, and to compare different body composition measurement methods. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a control group receiving standard care plus low-intensity KneeStim or an experimental group receiving standard care plus flexible-intensity KneeStim. The KneeStim device will be worn during rehabilitation visits for the first 5 weeks after surgery and then during daily activities from weeks 6 to 12. Both groups will follow standard rehabilitation protocols alongside the device use. Throughout the study, participants will undergo body composition analyses, MRI scans, strength testing, gait assessments using the KneeStim device, and complete surveys about their progress. Researchers will monitor gait changes at multiple points post-operation, including 6 weeks and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. The study aims to validate the KneeStim device against established measures and track participant recovery over time.

Researchers are investigating the most effective running retraining techniques to reduce ground contact time in healthy runners. The study compares three common methods to see how each affects ground contact time and other running biomechanics. It aims to identify which technique best improves running efficiency and could potentially reduce running injuries. Participants will experience three different retraining conditions at their comfortable running speed. The first condition involves verbal cues from a clinician to lift the foot quickly every 15 seconds. The second uses a metronome set to 10% above the runner's usual step rate for auditory feedback. The third provides real-time visual feedback of ground contact time on a screen, with a target to reduce this time by 5% from baseline. During the study, runners' ground contact time will be measured before and during each condition. Researchers will also assess the runners' perceived exertion, difficulty, and naturalness of each technique using established rating scales. The study involves healthy runners aged 17 to 60 who run regularly and can run continuously for at least 15 minutes. The findings aim to guide clinicians and researchers on effective running retraining methods to improve running performance and injury prevention.

The International Weight Control Registry (IWCR) is a global research effort aimed at understanding the challenges and opportunities in reducing obesity rates. It collects information from adults who have experience with weight management in their daily lives, including those trying to lose weight, maintaining weight loss, gaining weight, or unable to lose weight. The study seeks to gather a wide range of experiences to better understand weight control. This research does not involve specific treatments or interventions but focuses on collecting data from participants through surveys about their weight management journeys. It welcomes anyone 18 years or older who is thinking about losing weight, actively trying to lose weight, or has attempted weight loss in the past, whether successful or not. Participants provide information online by completing surveys, sharing their experiences with weight loss or gain. The study measures outcomes such as percent weight change over five years. Researchers use this information to learn about factors affecting weight management and barriers to success. Participants must be able to give informed consent and complete surveys online, with no physical visits or treatments required.