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Integrating Human Performance Optimization Online and Offline
July 29, 2011
Human Performance Optimization has been a buzzword in the military for nearly a decade and is a term commonly used to describe techniques to improve an individual’s performance. In the Department of Defense, HPO is formally defined as the process of applying knowledge, skills and emerging technologies to improve and preserve the capabilities of DOD personnel to execute essential tasks.
In the past decade, the DOD has worked to expand various programs and initiatives around HPO in order to fill the gaps in research, policy and advocacy. To that end, the Human Performance Resource Center has been working for the past two years establishing an online web presence, coupled with offline partnerships, in order to achieve that objective.
The HPRC was established in 2009 by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Health Protection and Readiness, and is governed by and housed at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. The goal of the HPRC is to collect, organize and disseminate the most current information available on all aspects of HPO.
The program currently offers the only DOD website solely devoted to providing evidence-based resources and answers to a wide range of questions related to HPO, particularly domains that include physical fitness, nutrition, dietary supplements, mind tactics, functioning in extreme environments, and family and social issues. These domains are collectively known as total force fitness. The HPRC’s Web presence can be found at http://humanperformanceresourcecenter.org.
The HPRC also works to develop key partnerships with organizations such as the American College of Sports Medicine, Real Warriors and the Consortium for Health and Military Performance. Through these partnerships, the HPRC reaches a wide audience of military leaders, planners, health care providers supporting DOD operations, human performance researchers within and outside government, and Service members. The central aim of the HPRC, however, is to make a difference for Service members who are deploying, currently deployed or in down time.
“Although health is a prerequisite for performance, the presence of health does not guarantee performance. We excel in caring for the wounded warrior—now we must excel in sustaining, optimizing, and enhancing the warrior. Through performance enhancement research, human systems integration, and a health system that sustains human performance, the American Soldier, Sailor, Airman, and Marine can effectively and efficiently execute the mission,” said Air Force Col. Lex Brown, director, Human Performance Integration Directorate, 711th Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory.
The HPRC’s efforts are widespread, and include efforts to optimize and sustain the mental and physical performance and resilience of the warfighter; reduce injury; decrease the incidence of illness; accelerate recovery from missions, illness, and/or injury; provide information and knowledge transfer from laboratory to line; and improve the human weapon system’s ability to accomplish the mission.
A notable example of HPRC’s work was in helping keep soldiers in the field hydrated by telling them to avoid the bodybuilding supplement creatine. The HPRC collected evidence showing that creatine dehydrates the body and could lead to kidney damage. That information was then disseminated to soldiers deployed in desert environments who were more at risk of dehydration. Resources and guidelines for other environment-specific situations, such as sustaining health and performance in cold temperatures, and maintaining adequate nutrition at high altitudes, can also be found on the HPRC website.
Currently, the HPRC is working on its dietary supplement system. Dietary supplements are commonly used by Service members for a variety of reasons. With this use comes many questions and concerns about the benefits and use of supplements. The HPRC is working to develop and host a classification system for supplements, using color codes to identify supplements according to their level of concern and benefit. An interactive educational module on dietary supplements is also being developed for the Web.
In addition, the HPRC has partnered with the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database so all health care providers and Service members have free access to scientifically-based information on over 60,000 supplements. This database provides evidence-based information on thousands of natural medicines and alternative therapies including safety, effectiveness, adverse reactions, drug interactions and more. In addition, the database supports the ability to automatically check for harmful interactions of more than 3,800 alternative therapies and drugs based on the severity ratings.
The HPRC is a unique example of how the human component of health care cannot be ignored, but must be integrated with the use of information technology in order to provide the right information at the right time, in an effort to prepare our war fighters.
“[Soldiers] need the best information on how to optimally prepare physically and mentally for their missions. Our goal is to supply that information with the end result that our warriors are able to optimally perform their duties in any environment against any enemy. They will be more resistant to injury or illness and if they are injured or ill they will have the resilience to bounce back fast,” said Stephen S. Frost, M.D., director of the HPRC at the Uniformed Service University of the Health Sciences (USU).
For more information about the HPRC, go to www.humanperformanceresourcecenter.org. The HPRC is an initiative managed by FHP&R. For more information about FHP&R, go to http://home.fhpr.osd.mil/home.aspx.
By FHP&R Communications
FHP&R Communications