OptoSource assists FITS Toronto in athlete assessment using OptoJump

OptoSource had a great weekend supporting Fits Toronto and Dr. Thomas Lam in testing the Ontario Ski Team. OptoSource provided technology in three main stages of assessment for these athletes.

Focusing on the core of the body as well as reactivity and strength, athletes performed our 4Pillar protocol in addition to a few unique tests designed for Fits, including box drops and L-Cut patterns inside a 2-meter system. Athletes were then tested for optimal gait rhythm using a treadmill equipped with a 1-meter system. Additionally, a 10-meter OptoJump system was provided for sprints and broad jumps in a long-distance interface that will provide feedback on contact times and flight times as well as variance of symmetries from one leg to the other. As Dr. Lam prepares for the AOA Coaches Conference, having OptoJump technology to discuss during his portion of this incredible professional development event, is adding a new spark to his anticipated discussion on injury prevention.

Dr. Thomas Lam, Cory Kennedy, FITS Toronto

As we analyze the athletes, comparing the video with the athlete data is helping us define not only ideal mechanics from athlete to athlete, but the mechanics of a single leg jump compared to the other leg as performed by a single athlete. We are using the angle tools within the OptoJump software to support our subjective video analysis in determining dynamic knee ‘wobble’ or pelvic instability. Understanding an athlete’s stamina and conditioning can be supported by movement variability, significant drift, and undeveloped rhythm and mechanics during longer or more strenuous tests. The Fits team is confident that data acquired using OptoSource technology can greatly improve how athletes at every level improve sports performance while reducing the risk of injury.

UC Davis and the FCA National Convention and Expo

OptoSource has been on the road! This past week OptoSource delivered a new lap-top, provided by Performance Spine and Sport, to the UC Davis team in Sacramento in order to train them to begin using their 1meter OptoGait system in studying functional movement. Hopes to develop a testing protocol for defining a study around concussion rehabilitation and functional movement trends are top goals of the team and Assistant Adjunct Professor and Research Director for UCD Sports Medicine, Grethcen Casazza.

UC Davis

This weekend OptoSource is teaming up with Dr. Nicholas Studholme, DC, CCSP, CCEP. and the team at KinesioCapture in Orlando for the 2011 Florida Chiropractic Association’s National Convention and Expo. The expo will draw practitioners from around the country come to educate themselves of newest practices and learn about the latest technology.

KinesioCapture is introducing their brand new iPhone and iPad application that allows users to capture images using the devices camera and edit, draw, graph, in addition to a host of other functions, while on the move.

Former Secretary General of the International Federation of Sports Chiropractic, Thomas Hyde and Timothy Stark, DC, DACBSP, ICSSD, CSCS, CKTP of the National University of Health Sciences will be stopping by to discuss the use of both the KinesioCapture application and OptoSource technology and his thoughts on the future of chiropractic sciences.

KinesioCapture

The 35foot booth will showcase an OptoGait system on a treadmill giving free gait-prints to all. Dr. Nicholas Studholme will be describing the precision of the feedback and offering advice on how to address changes in footwear, posture, habit or otherwise. OptoSource founder, Doug Fidellow will be running a 5meter OptoJump Next system and offering a chance for all to test the 4pillars protocol, including tests designed around the body’s core functionality of balance, power, rhythm and speed.

Attendees will be able to watch the data respond in real time over monitors set up around the area, participate in the activity, and work with the new app. We are inviting everyone that visits the booth to grab an invitation to our up-coming webinar series  Discovering the Next Generation of Assessment Technology.

OptoSouce & KinesioCapture

Booth# 1204

BSMPG EVENT

We are still unwinding ourselves after sponsoring the Boston Sports Medicine and Performance Group 2011 Conference. Held at Northeastern University and in its third year, the conference has evolved into a must-attend event for those involved with sports medicine and performance training.

Attendees were fortunate to hear a host of experts discuss the best practices and new techniques in a sport-specific classroom, focusing on either Basketball or Hockey. Additionally, the conference offered speakers focused on general sports medicine and a first look new and innovative products, such as OptoSource and our 4Pillars athlete management portal, Tekscan pressure mapping technology, and Core Cooler‘s frozen isotonic sports drink.

Art Horne, Director of Sports Medicine at Northeastern University, hosted more than 150 strength and conditioning coaches and trainers from colleges and universities around the country including the up-and coming Quinnipiac University and notable Cornell University to learn from 20 keynote speakers. The diverse set of speakers and topics included  Charlie Weingroff, the Lead Physical Therapist for United States Marine Corps Special Operations Command, and Former Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Philadelphia 76ers, and his topic, Trying to Define the Core as well as sports psychologist George Mumford, who under Phil Jackson’s support staff with the Chicago Bulls (1993-1998) and the Los Angeles Lakers (2000-2002) earned 6 NBA Championship titles, speak on his topic Playing the Inner Game of Basketball.

The BSMPG event was a great success for all attendees, speakers, and sponsors alike. Northeastern University has become a flagship school for OptoSource by having a 2-meter OptoJump system delivered to their staff on June 30th, and plans to have the system fully integrated into their sports medicine program as well as the health and wellness department by August 4th. OptoSource technology will be available for the entire student body to track and trend individual gait analysis‘ and performance statistics in the coming months.