Autonomous Rehabilitation Device for Improved Recovery in Warfighters

Altec Inc, in partnership with the Naval Health Research Center developed the OSCIR platform—a portable, markerless motion capture system—to accurately assess and improve warfighter movement using real-time 3D analysis. The system achieved clinical-grade accuracy in tracking joint motion and posture, offering a scalable solution for reducing musculoskeletal injuries (MSKIs) across the force.

MSKIs are the leading cause of non deployable status among active-duty service members, responsible for over 10 million limited duty days annually. Current injury prevention and rehabilitation methods rely on resource-intensive, lab-based systems or subjective observation, limiting widespread implementation across units.

OSCIR (Optical Screening and Conditioning for Injury Resilience) is a multi-camera, RGB-D, markerless platform designed to assess high-risk movement patterns and guide conditioning exercises with biomechanical precision. The system uses two synchronized depth cameras and custom algorithms to deliver real-time feedback on upper and lower body joint range of motion, exercise specific MSK form, and performance indicators —without requiring body-worn sensors or technician supervision.

OSCIR has been validated in controlled studies across military-relevant exercises and benchmarked against Vicon motion capture systems. It demonstrated mean joint ROM errors of 3–5 degrees and postural tracking accuracy within 2–3 cm, across tasks derived from Functional Movement Screen (FMS), DIME, and Y-Balance protocols. Beta testing is now underway at USMC SMART Clinics at Camp Pendleton as well as at theCarl R. Darnall Army Medical Center (CRDAMC) at Ft. Cavazos, TX with continued end-user engagement informing deployment refinements across the armed forces.

This work is funded by the Military Operational Medicine Research Program (MOMRP) and MTEC, under 22-02-MPAI. Future efforts include integrating OSCIR into broader DoD performance readiness programs to flag injury susceptibility, stress-testing in-field conditions, and extending the reach of tracked rehabilitation exercises to sustain warfighter readiness in forward-deployed, resource-limited environments.