NHMI, a non-profit organization, was founded in 1993 by James Vailas, MD (President), Laura Decoster, ATC (Executive Director) and the NHMI Board of Directors . Recognizing the importance of enlisting aid from experts in our fields, we next endeavored to create an Advisory Board composed of people we could use as resources as challenges arose over the years. In 1994 we kicked off efforts in the educational arm of our mission in the form of our first fall symposium and our inaugural athletic training fellowship. The fall symposium continues to be an annual event and in March of 2000 was joined by an annual winter meeting. The fellowship, symposium and winter meeting make up the core of our educational activities although we occasionally hold stand-alone conferences on various topics. Our earliest research efforts included a survey of orthopedic surgeons designed to determine how ACL braces were being used and a look at the impact of joint hypermobility on athletic injury risk. Much of our research work has been collaborative and that is reflected in the makeup of our Research Committee where members represent the University of New Hampshire , Plymouth State University and Bridgewater State College.

The New Hampshire Musculoskeletal Institute is a nonprofit organization established to promote, conduct, coordinate and disseminate musculoskeletal research and education and to ultimately improve musculoskeletal health care.

Research: Over the years, researchers associated with NHMI have contributed to the scientific literature in the areas of ACL bracing, joint hypermobility in athletes, jumping biomechanics, hamstring stretching and football facemask removal.

Education: Annual continuing education events and a post-professional fellowship for certified athletic trainers highlight the Institute's educational efforts.