Motus smart sleeve for baseball pitchers (via Motus)
If you are a sports fan, or simply a fan of not witnessing people severely injure themselves, then you'll be happy to know that one company has finally done something to prevent it. Like some from the element14 "Sudden Impact" challenge.
This technology is aimed at professional baseball pitchers who have had record numbers of injuries in recent years. Particularly, it is very common to see a baseball pitcher tear or strain their ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). This injury can result in Tommy John Surgery, which means the player will have to sit out for a season, or maybe even end his baseball career.
Well, Motus has been a leader in professional motion and performance tracking for a while now and decided to finally develop a smart sleeve that can help prevent injuries in professional baseball players.
The technology has been in the works for about 4 years and Motus expects at least 20 MLB teams to use this new technology. The new adopters of the Motus sleeve include the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, the Atlanta Braves, and Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Motus compression sleeve houses a lot of tech in a flash-drive size, which is housed near the player’s elbow, inside the sleeve. The technology includes a 3D motion sensor with six accelerometers and gyros. This data can be used to determine elbow torque, pitch counts, arm speed, mechanical fatigue, and more.
The data is instantly uploaded via Bluetooth to a mobile smartphone app, which will be monitored by physical trainers and mangers in the hopes of making smarter decisions that will prevent injury.
The Motus technology will also keep a running log of all players' motion for future reference in training and on the field . This data is important in preventing injury and helping pitchers improve their game by identifying weaknesses in their pitching, their strength and control, and where the most stress is placed.
During training, they can work to correct their pitches, and trainers and managers can also keep an eye on mechanical fatigue and large variances in a player’s pitches. Many players get fatigued during training and it can escalate into an injury. Through the technology, trainers and managers can determine when a player should rest.
Motus intended to continue to develop this technology for other professional players in football, basketball, tennis, lacrosse, and golf. They will tailor their analytics to suit the various body mechanics of each sport.
However, considering the amount of data Motus collects on a regular basis from professional players, I'm sure it's only a matter of time before you see all of your favorite athletes wearing a blue armband.
Within the wearables industry, there seems to be a big market for professional athletes who need that edge over their competitors to stay in the game.
There is also a recent technology for the not-so-professional athletes who want to reach fitness goals, have the benefit of a trainer, and avoid injury called the Mbody Coach. It's probably still too intense for the occasional workout, but if you're training for that marathon, it could come in handy.
C
See more news at: