Warfighter Brain Health Hub

Protecting the Mind and Powering Mission Success

Clear thinking and rapid decision-making are vital for mission success. In high-stakes environments, split-second decisions protect lives and accomplish the mission.

The Warfighter Brain Health Initiative works to protect service members from preventable injuries, provides guidance for fast and effective care, and helps medical care teams verify every warfighter performs at their best.

What the Brain Health Initiative Does

We work across the Military Health System to monitor, protect, and restore brain health through every stage of military service.

  • Prevent and Protect: Identify risks early and reduce exposures to operational hazards, like blast overpressure.
  • Monitor Baseline Health: Conduct regular cognitive checkups to catch changes in brain function early.
  • Detect and Treat Injuries: Quickly diagnose concussions and traumatic brain injuries to speed recovery.
  • Support Long-Term Care: Connect warfighters with specialized rehabilitation that helps address physical and mental complications
  • Drive Groundbreaking Research: Study brain health to develop better protective gear, safety guidelines, and clinical treatments

Supporting warfighter brain health and performance helps medical teams catch issues early, keeping service members ready, resilient, and mission capable of maximizing Joint Force superiority and lethality in all operating environments.

Guidance for the Force

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Publication
June 8, 2022

DOD Warfighter Brain Health Initiative Strategy and Action Plan

As a Department, we are committed to protecting the health and well-being of our people in order to maximize our ability to defend the nation. Brain health has historically been defined in terms of human performance optimization. The most accepted and familiar aspect of human performance has been physical performance (e.g., agility, endurance, ...

Video
July 22, 2021

PRA Training Video 2: Six Major Changes

Thumbnail image of PRA Training Video 2, Six Major Changes

In this lesson we review the six major changes in the TBICoE's revised 2021 Progressive Return to Activity (PRA) Clinical Recommendation that differ from the original recommendation. The changes reflect the latest TBI research, and will make it easier for providers to manage the recovery process and return service members with concussion to full ...

Video
July 22, 2021

PRA Training Video 6: The Return to Duty Screening

Thumbnail image of PRA training video 6, the return to duty screening

In this lesson, we cover how to perform the Return to Duty, or RTD screening, which now includes both vestibular/physical and neurocognitive examinations. The purpose of the RTD screening is to objectively measure whether a service member is ready for return to full duty. Each video in the Progressive Return to Activity training series is designed ...

Video
July 22, 2021

PRA Training Video 7: Symptom-Guided Management and Specialty Referral Guidance Tables

Thumbnail image of PRA training video 7, the symptom-guided management and specialty referral guidance tables.

This lesson covers how to use the Progressive Return to Activity, or PRA's Symptom-Guided Management and Specialty Referral Guidance tables. This lesson also details primary care management strategies for service members who are not progressing as expected in the PRA. Each video in the Progressive Return to Activity training series is designed to ...

Video
July 22, 2021

PRA Training Video 8: Clinical Case Scenario

Thumbnail image of PRA training video 8, clinical case scenario.

This is an interactive clinical case scenario to test your understanding in applying the Progressive Return to Activity (PRA). We hope this will help medical providers become more familiar with the PRA process when treating service members with concussion. Each video in the PRA training series is designed to support primary care providers' ability ...

Video
July 22, 2021

PRA Training Video 1: PRA Overview

Thumbnail image of PRA training video 1, PRA overview.

In the first of TBICoE's Progressive Return to Activity (PRA) video training series, you will learn about the reasons for using a progressive return to activity process and receive an overview of the 2021 PRA algorithm and its associated tools. By the end of lesson one, providers will better understand the PRA process, and explain that process to ...

Video
July 22, 2021

PRA Training Video 3: Understanding Relative Rest

Thumbnail image for PRA Training video 3, understanding relative rest

In this lesson we explain the differences between complete rest and relative rest in a staged concussion recovery process, and provide examples of activities that promote relative rest. The revised Progressive Return to Activity (PRA) Clinical Recommendation uses the term 'relative rest' to emphasize the importance of early introduction of physical ...

Video
July 22, 2021

PRA Training Video 4: PRA Progression Criteria

Thumbnail image for PRA Training video 4, PRA progression criteria

In this lesson, we review the criteria for advancing through the stages of the Progressive Return to Activity (PRA) Clinical Recommendation. Each video in the PRA training series is designed to support primary care providers' ability to manage concussion/traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Video
July 22, 2021

PRA Training Video 5: The Six Stages of the PRA

Thumbnail image for PRA training video 5, the six stages of the PRA

In this lesson, we cover the key activity objectives for each of the six stages of the Progressive Return to Activity (PRA) Clinical Recommendation and provide activity examples for each stage. Each stage is designed to gradually increase the intensity and duration of a service member's physical and cognitive activity as they advance in the PRA ...

Video
Feb. 25, 2021

Progressive Return to Activity After Concussion Video

Progressive Return to Activity Provider Video

The PRA is an evidence-based, easy-to-use approach to help providers return service members with mild TBIs back to duty safely. TBICoE researchers have found that, if medical providers completed a two-hour, in-person training on the use of the PRA, their patients saw an overall reduction in symptoms after one week, one month, and three months, when ...