For eight years in a row WT | Wearable Technologies is partnering with the world´s largest medical trade show and its leading platform the MEDICA MEDICINE + SPORTS CONFERENCE. It has established as the leading interdisciplinary exchange platform between international sports medicine experts, professional athletes and sport techies, the sporting goods and healthcare industries.
Wearable technologies play an important role in all disciplines! It is also impressivley shown in this years 8th edition of the MEDICA MEDICINE + SPORTS CONFERENCE, taking place virtually on the 18th & 19th of November 2020. This is why you should not miss this online conference:
Right at the beginning of the conference, Prof. Dr. Brockmann will shed light on infectious diseases and their consequences for professional and recreational sports from an epidemiological perspective. Prof. Brockmann works at the Humboldt University in Berlin and at the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), where he develops mathematical models for the COVID-19 outbreak. The RKI has been measuring the “pulse of the nation” since the beginning of April thanks to a data donation app. Prof. Brockmann was involved in its development. The idea: Data from wearables (e.g. fitness wristbands and smart watches) can provide clues about the symptoms of COVID-19 – and inform those who affected much faster. With the help of the Corona data donation app, users can make this data available to the RKI. Together with data from other sources, e.g. the official reporting data, the wearables data helps scientists to better record and understand the spread of the corona virus.
AI and digital twins: Future concepts of sports medicine (18th Nov, 1 pm)
The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve performance and regeneration (e.g. in ice hockey) is also pointing the way forward. Karl Schwarzenbrunner, for example, uses AI for match analysis. The head of the Education and Science Department at the German Ice Hockey Federation uses a system that combines player data collected via wearables with data from an autonomous camera system and evaluates it in real time. To do this, the system has not only to recognize its own players and those of the opponent. But the puck and some parameters, such as a line rush, must also be defined and recorded. In addition, questionnaires are used to record subjective performance and regeneration. The data is used to actively manage regeneration, prevent injuries, and ultimately optimize performance.
Digital twins are also part of the competitive sport of the future. Prof. Björn Eskofier, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, is an expert in the field of pattern recognition and data analysis. He shows how and where digital twins are used in sports today and in the future.
The session “Future concepts in sports medicine” will be closed with a partner contribution from Dr. Silvano Zanuso from Technogym about the topic “The latest technology to deliver evidence-based exercise programs”. Technology, specifically the combination of hardware and software can help in prescribing safe and effective programs. We know that resistances can be divided into constant, variable, accommodating but since now it was not possible to manage all of those resistances all together on a single piece of equipment in an easy and seamless way. But it is now with the new Biostrength Machines. Obviously when something new in the field of exercise is developed it offers numerous opportunities, and also opportunities to provide better exercise therapies.
Tailored exercise programs supported by the use of wearables (19th Nov, 10 am)
In soccer, clubs aim to explore technology innovations (Tis) in order to create competitive advantages. Improving the performance on the pitch, identifying talents as well as maintaining physical and mental health are key areas of application. In order to detect current trends in the application and processes related to Tis in professional soccer, Fee Bayer and Kathrin Neuhofer conducted a study with experts from the sport departments (i.e. match analysts, scouts, athletic coaches, innovation officers, team doctors) of 15 German Bundesliga clubs via online-interviews during season. The study reveals trends in the reciprocal relationship in which Tis adapt to clubs’ meeds (e.g. multidimensional prognostic modelling) and vice versa (e.g. data science competency).
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stephan Odenwald (Chemnitz University of Technology) uses new technologies to analyze motion sequences of athletes, for example in speed skating, and to optimize the regeneration and prevention of injuries. With the help of sensors, he determines, how much force an athlete should exert on the ice. In this way, movement sequences can be documented directly during the trainings and improved to prevent injuries.
Evidence-based diagnostics and wearable technologies (19th Nov, 1 pm)
International sports medicine specialists have been developing a global standard for wearables in sports and fitness on behalf of European sports medicine associations for about two years. Prof. Dr. Yannis Pitsiladis from the University of Brighton and head of the “Sub2” marathon project will show who this seal of approval is relevant for and what is being measured.
Sleep duration and quality are measured by many wearables. Both parameters influence performance and regeneration. Prof. Jürgen Götze from the Technical University of Dortmund will present the current state of research in sleep diagnostics, as well as new approaches providing new insights, and further updates on the complex topic of sleep.
Digital biomarkers, recognizable data patterns from various sources from which diagnostic or prognostic benefits can be derived, are becoming increasingly important for evidence-based diagnostics. Sweat could in fact become a source of data for the next generation of digital biomarkers, as Dr. Noé Karl Brasier, University Hospital Basel will explain in his conference presentation.
Sports in times of highly infectious viral diseases (19th Nov, 3 pm)
Prevention remains crucial in the fight against Corona. That also applies to sports. Dr. Ulrich Jerichow, CEO, VitaScale, is working on innovative systems that team athletes could wear during the game to prevent infection. More specifically, this involves the development of a face shield made of silicone and polycarbonate with ventilation and respiratory gas diagnostics, in the shape of a flexible disc with a plastic frame and a rubber band attachment for safe competitive sports without restricting vision.
Exciting start-ups and scale-ups: Digital innovations in sports and healthcare (19th Nov, 4 pm)
The session starts with Dr. Holger Hendrichs, VP of greenTEG, who will give a lecture on the subject of “core body temperature” in competitive sports. Hendrichs presents the first findings of the data collected on the Tour de France 2020 and from professional triathlon competitions. Ali Kord is COO of AiQ Synertial and will then talk about the exact recording and analysis of movement data from professional surfers. This new approach can revolutionize training but also the jury evaluation in competitions. Nico Kaartinen, Managing Director of Kaasa Solution, is also an expert on the subject of motion analysis. He will talk about “synchronized mobile motion analysis with inertial measuring units”. He will show examples from beach volleyball and figure skating. Harald Freitag shows how sensor-based movement analysis can be combined with tailor-made training programs. He is the CEO / CTO of movX. The idea behind the movX technology is to record, analyze and optimize complex motion sequences with the help of a portable sensor system. The data and its 3D representation can not only help trainers and athletes, but also support physiotherapists and doctors in caring for their patients.
Koen Vercauteren, founder and head coach of ledsreact will show a new solution for agility and speed training in team sports in his concluding lecture. The “Ledsreact Pro” will fully automate the agility training or testing and gives insights needed to improve the agility performance of the players. Without wearable, they can track data points on agility capabilities that have never been accessible before – such as acceleration, deceleration, speed, decision making time, etc. This data enables you to make better and more informed decisions, e.g. for return to play or training schedules.
A lot to learn! Join our partner event! For further information about the online conference, please visit virtual.MEDICA MEDICINE + SPORTS CONFERENCE.
