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Dr. Souvestre Attends Aerospace Meeting in Alaska
May 2011
NK creates a better hockey player Read More
- A new study indicates that technology developed by NeuroKinetics Health Services could improve balance and athletic performance in hockey players. The technology could also be used to prevent bone-breaking falls by senior citizens and has proven useful for treatment of concussion and mild traumatic brain injury.
Data from a recent clinical trial, compiled by the BC Institute of Technology’s Health Technology Research Group, found significant improvements in the players’ balance and posture while wearing a device that stimulates the brain’s sensory motor control system. Better balance and posture leads to greater control and cardio-vascular fitness when skating and handling the puck, which in turn creates a better hockey player.
“A pair of these might be more beneficial than a new pair of skates,” said a spokesman for NeuroKinetics Health Services, the research arm of the medical company that has developed the Bio-Regulator Externe, or BRE®.
The BRE® uses electro-magnetic frequencies to stimulate parts of the brain that control activities such as hand-eye co-ordination. The stimulation improves blood flow to these areas of the brain, resulting in better balance and posture.
The device was originally developed through combined military and medical research on the effects of extreme changes in gravity environments – such as high sustained acceleration and micro-gravity – on pilots and astronauts. It has been examined by military forces interested in the device’s ability to improve physical accuracy, reduce fatigue and enhance cognitive functions. “It was originally developed as a means to assist pilots in combat roles because higher oxygen levels in the brain assist with split-second decision making in stressful situations,” said the spokesman. The BRE does not require surgery, drugs or external power sources and is so compact it is worn in patients’ shoes.
While athletes are sure to benefit, there are other areas where the technology can be immediately applied. Improved balance in the elderly can result in fewer falls and fewer broken bones. The Public Health Agency of Canada reports that a 20% reduction in falls would translate to an estimated 7,500 fewer hospitalizations and 1,800 fewer permanently disabled seniors. The overall national savings could amount to $138 million annually. “Spin-off benefits like fall prevention and improved cognitive function are just a bonus, said the spokesman, adding, “Theoretically, it could add yards to someone’s golf swing.”
Once the results of this study are completely analyzed, a larger scale study will be developed, said the spokesman. “We believe that we can adapt this technology to create a version that no only improves your balance, but actually warns you when your centre of gravity is out of limits and you are in danger of falling over.”
