Aug. 16 dSports Summit Showcases Technology's Impact on Sports Performance and Safety

Technology and data analytics are revolutionizing sports – yielding breakthroughs in training, performance improvement and injury prevention. To share its advances in sports medicine, technology innovation and research – and to showcase next-generation sports technology from around the nation – the University of Rochester is hosting the inaugural dSports Summit on Aug. 16 at Oak Hill Country Club. Athletes and their family members, coaches, trainers, sports medicine physicians, physical therapists, and sports professionals are invited.

 

“The ‘d’ in ‘dSports’ refers to digital – thanks to wearable devices and sensors, the amount of data on athletic performance and injury has skyrocketed in the last couple of years,” said Michael D. Maloney, M.D., Professor of Orthopaedics and Chief of the Division of Sports Medicine at University of Rochester.

The sports summit will show how data can be a useful tool for athletes, their coaches and their sports physicians, Maloney added. “Whether it’s the Olympic Games, professional sports or the high school/collegiate arena, athletic competition has never been tighter. Hundredths of a second separate a first-place finish from last, and determine whether you’ll make the team or be cut. But emerging technologies like the ones on display at the dSports Summit are giving athletes a competitive edge.”

 

The event includes an interactive technology expo, featuring dSports Summit presenters whose products are used by Olympic athletes, National Football League players and members of the U.S. military forces. The lineup includes:

·        Concussion-detecting devices from BlackBox Biometrics, the Rochester company that supplies wearable sensors to the U.S. military to measure impacts that can cause traumatic brain injury in soldiers. This year, BlackBox unveiled a product geared for athletes; the Linx Impact Assessment System measures athletic forces that can cause concussion, and provides real-time data on a smartphone or tablet.

·        “Neuropriming” from Halo Neuroscience, a San Francisco-based company whose headwear sends gentle electrical impulses to enhance signals between the brain and muscles. Developed for use in epilepsy and stroke rehab patients, the product is now used by Olympians and professional athletes to improve strength, dexterity and movement.

·        BioStamp Sensors from MC10, a Boston-based company whose small, wireless adhesive patches can be worn on multiple points of the athlete’s body to capture complex performance data. Sensor position can be tailored to the athlete’s sport and the type of data sought.

·        OrthoMetrics software system, developed by University of Rochester clinicians and researchers, which uses 3D technology-assisted physical examinations and data analysis to assess musculoskeletal health and develop customized training to improve health and reduce injury.

In addition to technology demonstrations, the day includes panel discussions and audience Q&A on predicting and preventing ACL injury; diagnosing and treating concussion; tips for athletes who want to achieve peak performance; and elite local athletes discussing their injury and recovery, as well as tips for training and game-day performance.

 

“Sports Medicine is dedicated to treating athletic injuries in people of all ages and levels, but we are also very active in research to expand our understanding of the causes and impacts of athletic injury so we can find better treatments and help protect athletes from preventable injuries,” said Kostantinos Vasalos, Director of Rehabilitation Services and Chief of Sports and Spine Rehabilitation at URMC. “There are some exciting developments in sports medicine and research and we’re looking forward to bringing some of the nation’s thought leaders together for this summit.”

The event runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes breakfast, lunch and snacks. Registrants are entered in a drawing to win one of five Fitbits. To learn more, go to dSportsSummit.org.