Research reveals practical solutions to common injuries

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Yash Rojas
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Lower back injuries or chronic leg and ankle pain can cause major frustration for Airmen, sometimes even threatening Air Force careers.

Although physical therapy treatment for these kinds of injuries can be successful in alleviating pain and even relapse, one physical therapist at Eielson Air Force Base believes his research may point to a simpler, more basic method for treatment.

Over the past the five years, Maj. Charles Houlding, 354th Medical Operations Squadron physical therapy officer-in-charge, has implemented his theory during routine treatment of Airmen with knee and hip injuries.

The idea originated from a shoulder course Houlding took in October 2006, where the teacher was able to see significant strength gain by achieving proper alignment of the shoulders -- or achieving the muscle's optimal length. He wondered if the same gains could be achieved when the principle was applied to a different area of the body, specifically the hip.

"Every muscle in the body has a certain length at which it functions best," said Houlding. "If the muscle is too stretched or too short, it's weaker."

During treatment to a patient with a shoulder injury he discovered that if the body was not in the optimum position to perform the resistance exercise, range of motion and strength was reduced.

"For years, I had been working with patients helping get their pelvis in proper alignment," said Houlding. "It never occurred to me to test their strength. So I went back to the clinic and tested the strength, before and after, of the next patient who needed pelvic treatment. To my surprise, not only did he have increased strength to the leg I treated, but had [increased] strength to the other side as well."

According to Houlding, the steady trend from patient to patient supported the notion that the treatment resulted in strength gains to legs, not just in the hips, but also in the knee musculature.

While working at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, Houlding saw the look of disappointment on some trainees faces as the transition into the Air Force sometimes proved too much for those with inactive lifestyles prior to their enlistment.

"I thought if I could somehow introduce this technique to into the basic training program, these young Airmen coming in from a sedentary life could tap into their own strength and align their own pelvises," he said. "Then, then they could adapt more easily to a running lifestyle, hopefully having less injuries and less attrition from being washed out."

As a result of his early observations, Houlding is continuing research to support his hypothesis. The research program focuses on active-duty military personnel ages 18 to 50 with injuries to knees and hips.

"I just want to get a snapshot of where healthy people are currently at to show this intervention can make a difference," said Houlding.

Having satisfied only part of the research requirement, Houlding is still looking for 60 volunteers. He encourages Air Force members who fit the criteria to participate in the study.

"For the medical community, it will change physical therapy because at this time we focus on weakness and strengthening without looking at the underlying alignment of the bones," said Houlding. "If we address the alignment first, and tap into the patients' native strength, then we can build on that foundation and work on control to get them back to optimum function."

In the future, Houlding hopes the data supporting this research will enable people to tap into their own strength anytime, anywhere, whether deployed or at home station, so they will not have to rely on a specialist.

For more information or to participate in the study, call 377-3266.