Latest news with #sportscience
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Revealed: The hi-tech GPS gadget that Ruben Amorim has his Man United players using in training to collect key data ahead of new season
Early morning in the Chicago sunshine and captain Bruno Fernandes is helping Luke Shaw and Matheus Cunha adjust their GPS vests before Manchester United train at Soldier Field. It's an inconspicuous device that sits between the shoulder blades, but the myriad of information it transmits to United's analysts and sports science team can make a huge difference in the never-ending crusade to get the best out of the players and prevent injury. Not a single piece of data is wasted. No stone left unturned. As Ruben Amorim explained on United's summer tour of the US, there is no hiding place for his stars when the science provides irrefutable evidence. 'We have rules and the rules are not to treat the players as babies,' said Amorim. 'They have sons and I treat them as men, but they have rules now – and that can change the way you train. 'If you don't train in the right way, I have footage to show you. And I show you in front of everybody. I'm always on top. In the moment, if you train one time badly I will show you the image. I will not just speak with you, I will show everything.' Sports science has moved on significantly from the days when Bolton manager Sam Allardyce allowed Ian Marshall to train at home in Leicester using a club-issue heart monitor, and was impressed by the results until it transpired the veteran striker had been putting it on his dog Tess. It is well known that Erik ten Hag sent the United players on a punishment run the day after they lost 4-0 at Brentford three years ago because the data showed that they had lagged behind their opponents by a total of 13.8 kilometres. That was only August 2022 but the science has advanced into a whole new realm after United renewed their sponsorship deal with STATSports to wear the upgraded 2.0 version of the Apex GPS performance trackers. The state-of-the-art technology will enable the club's analysts to monitor the players in action more accurately, saving coaching staff an estimated 20 hours a week which can now be spent on deeper analysis. Ed Leng, head of physical performance at United, explained: 'At Manchester United, we're always looking to push the boundaries of player performance and wearable trackers are a vital part of that process. 'The Apex 2.0 trackers will enable us to unlock deeper insights across all men's and women's players spanning all training environments, from academy to first team. Real-time tracking capabilities help us to better prepare, develop, and protect our players.' As part of the agreement, six beacons the size of iPads will be installed at Old Trafford, two at each end of the ground. Up to eight more will be in use at Carrington to cover six pitches. Portable beacons can also be attached to tripods for use at away games or remote training bases, as they were on this summer's US tour. The GPS units slot into pockets on the back of the players' vests and transmit their individual data to the beacons which send them to the sports science staff. The new system uses real-time kinematics, providing pin-point accuracy to the neatest millimetre in terms of positioning and navigation, so a player's every movement and reaction is logged and shared in an instant. The Apex has roughly five-million data points per 90-minute training session, give or take, which provide United's staff with 300 different metrics. These are separated into internal metrics, such as a player's heartbeat, and external which includes categories like distance covered. This can then be broken down even further into accelerations, decelerations and high-speed runs to work out the dynamic stress load on each player. 'You think of the likes of Kobbie Mainoo pressing and then having to make a hard run back,' explains STATSports managing director Paul McKernan. 'We break the categories down, first of all internal and external, and then you look at the distance and volume metrics as well. 'We provide 100 per cent accurate live data and we are the only people in the industry worldwide who have that. 'Why's that important? Because when you're standing by the side of the training pitch, you can make decisions on the players based on data you see in front of you, not waiting until after the session and downloading the data and saying, 'I wish Mason Mount had run a little bit further or done a few more sprints, or actually he did too much today'. You need to make that decision in real time and that's based on the accuracy of the live data. 'As technology evolves, we are able offer that next level of accuracy in terms of the speed we can operate at, the speed we can download the data, and how quickly we can transfer it to the beacons and back to the iPad. It's bringing the accuracy to a whole new level compared to what it was previously.' One major benefit is that the sports science staff can spot when a player is entering the 'red zone' and prevent him sustaining an injury by pushing too hard. 'In pre-season, they will be monitoring the players to build up to where the sports scientists know where they can reach in terms of distance covered, match speeds, the metres of high-speed running, but they want to do that in a safe way to make sure they don't get injured,' adds McKernan. 'They can do that from understanding the history and years of data that they've got on each player that we've been able to provide them with. 'That's one aspect of it. The other is that in real time they can look at the dynamic stress load. It's a predictor of injury. We can predict when players are moving into that zone. 'Making that decision in real time is so much easier when you have accurate data in front of you versus waiting until someone strains a hamstring, and you look at the data afterwards and say 'if only we had known'. 'Our software all works around the match day. We tailor situations for match day minus two and minus one, in terms of the load we would put on a player. 'The biggest thing for any sports organisation is to have all their players available. We help with availability to play and at the least risk of injury as possible – and they are ready to play at the optimum time.' STATSports work with nine other Premier League clubs – Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham, Everton, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Wolves and Burnley – and have seconded a member of their staff to work with United full-time so the technology can be best tailored to their needs. 'Manchester United are looking to push the boundaries of performance, and as a key partner we want to help them with that in any way we can,' says McKernan. 'Liverpool had a great season obviously, but keeping the players fit was a big part of it. We can provide the same data, it's then how they use that. The guys have done a great job at United before in terms of trying to move it on, and hopefully they are able to take another step within that.'
The Independent
28-07-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
How Lucy Bronze kept broken leg a secret at Euro 2025 – as told by her mum
Lucy Bronze 's mother has revealed how her daughter was able to play through Euro 2025 despite having a broken leg. Speaking from Switzerland, the proud mother talked about how many of Lucy's Lioness teammates and the wider family knew about her fractured tibia, but they were able to prevent it from leaking to the public. But she said her daughter's sport sciences studies helped her manage her injury throughout the tournament on their way to lifting the trophy. 'We knew all the way through,' Diane Bronze told BBC Woman's Hour. 'Originally somebody said, 'Well, it can't be a fracture, because you wouldn't be able to stand up'. 'But she said, 'I've got high pain threshold, and I can deal with pain'. 'Obviously, we knew the medics checked it, and they knew what they were doing. 'She did a sports science degree. She reads research papers and she knows about injuries. 'That's how she can keep going. That's why she knew how to tape her own leg.' Asked how she felt about her daughter playing with a fracture – which her mother said happened in June – Ms Bronze laughed: 'It doesn't matter how I feel, it's what she's going to do.' She said Lucy's club Chelsea knew about playing through the fracture, adding: 'The amazing thing is that the medical team all knew about it, we knew about it, I think a lot of the girls knew, and not a whisper got out.' Ms Bronze said her maiden name was Tough, and after marriage she followed the tradition of her husband's Portuguese heritage by keeping it – so her children are all Toughs. She said: 'I'm Diane Tough Bronze. 'When you get married in Portugal, you just add your husband's name. 'You keep your own and add his, so all of my children are Tough Bronzes.' Her mother was sure Lucy will carry on playing football once she has recovered from the tournament, saying: 'I think Sarina (Wiegman) had it right. 'She's going to have to get her off the pitch in a wheelchair.'
National Post
09-07-2025
- Business
- National Post
HELIOS and Caroline Harvey Partner to Advance Equity and Innovation in Women's Hockey
Article content Sorry, your browser doesn't support embedded videos. Article content PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — HELIOS, the leading wearable performance platform in ice hockey, proudly announces a new partnership with Caroline Harvey—Olympic medalist, World Champion, and two-time NCAA National Champion—to help close the long-standing gap in sport science and technology for female athletes. Article content As women's sports experience unprecedented growth in participation, viewership, and investment, performance tools and research have yet to catch up. Most data standards and development models are still based on men. For female athletes, especially in hockey, that means training without a complete picture—and often without the tools to reach their full potential. Article content Caroline Harvey is helping to change that. Article content A generational talent with a relentless work ethic, Harvey is redefining what excellence looks like in women's hockey. From breaking records at Wisconsin to leading Team USA to multiple gold medals on the world stage, she represents not just dominance, but progress. Now, by teaming up with HELIOS, she's taking that progress off the ice—and into the broader future of the sport. Article content 'I've always strived to play at the highest level and be at my best,' said Harvey. 'But it's not just about my journey—it's about making sure the next generation has the tools, the data, and the support they need to pursue theirs.' Article content This partnership signals a bold commitment from HELIOS to accelerate that change. In an industry where women's sports have historically been underfunded and underserved by research, Harvey and HELIOS are working to flip the script—bringing visibility, innovation, and investment to where it's long been overdue. Article content 'Caroline embodies everything HELIOS stands for—grit, discipline, and a relentless drive to improve,' said Bill Near, CEO of HELIOS. 'Together, we're not only advancing performance—we're helping lead a new chapter in women's hockey where every athlete has the opportunity to be seen, measured, and developed on their own terms.' Article content As the women's game continues to rise, this collaboration marks a pivotal step toward a more equitable, empowered future—on and off the ice. Article content About HELIOS Article content HELIOS provides advanced wearable performance analytics for ice hockey, empowering coaches, players, and parents with objective, actionable insights. Trusted across elite youth programs, high schools, and national teams, HELIOS is redefining how athletic development is measured and achieved. Article content About Caroline Harvey Article content Caroline Harvey, a standout defender for the U.S. Women's National Team and the University of Wisconsin, led her team to three consecutive National title games with two NCAA championships (2023, 2025). She was the first UW defender to score 63 points in a season, earning Patty Kazmaier top-3 finalist honors and back-to-back WCHA Defender of the Year awards. Internationally, she was named Best Defender at the 2023 and 2025 Women's World Championships (gold medals) and won Olympic silver with Team USA in Beijing 2022. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content Media Contact Article content HELIOS Article content Article content Article content
CTV News
14-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Study examines hockey players' brains during games
Vancouver Watch A new study is shedding light on differences in brain activity between hockey players in various positions.
Sustainability Times
13-05-2025
- Health
- Sustainability Times
Cold Plunges Are a Scam for Women and Science Just Dropped the Mic on This Freezing Hot Fitness Fad
IN A NUTSHELL ❄️ Cold plunges are popular for muscle recovery, but a Swiss study shows no significant benefits for women. are popular for muscle recovery, but a Swiss study shows no significant benefits for women. 🩺 Experts warn about potential risks of cold exposure, especially for individuals with heart and respiratory conditions. warn about potential risks of cold exposure, especially for individuals with heart and respiratory conditions. 🔬 The study highlights the gender gap in sports science, urging for more inclusive and representative research. in sports science, urging for more inclusive and representative research. 💡 Alternative recovery methods like sleep, hydration, and light activity may be safer and more effective. The allure of cold plunges has captivated fitness enthusiasts and wellness influencers alike, promoting the idea that submerging oneself in icy water can significantly aid muscle recovery. The global cold plunge tub market reached an astounding $318.63 million in 2023, underscoring its widespread popularity. Yet, a new study from Switzerland challenges these benefits for women. Could it be that the icy hype lacks substance for half the population? No Meaningful Edge in Recovery The Swiss study took a deep dive into the effects of cold and hot water immersion on muscle recovery in women. Participants were put through a rigorous workout involving multiple sets of drop-jumps designed to induce muscle damage. Post-exercise, they were divided into three groups: cold-water immersion, hot-water immersion, and no immersion. Submerging up to the sternum, participants in the plunge groups underwent this process immediately after exercising and once more two hours later. Interestingly, while physiological changes such as body temperature variations and muscle oxygenation were noted, these did not translate into improved recovery metrics. Key indicators like soreness, knee extensor swelling, creatine kinase levels, and isometric muscle strength were monitored at intervals following the workout. Results showed no significant differences across the groups, questioning the effectiveness of these popular recovery methods. Discover the Top Nutrient-Rich Foods that Can Assist in Your Weight Loss Journey Experts Weigh In on Risks and Benefits Dr. Farah Ahmad from The London General Practice provided insights into the broader implications of cold plunges. While potential benefits such as activating brown adipose tissue and improving insulin sensitivity were acknowledged, the risks could not be overlooked. She highlighted the dangers posed to individuals with pre-existing conditions, noting that sudden cold exposure can lead to rapid heart rate increases and elevated blood pressure, potentially triggering dangerous cardiac events. Moreover, the sudden shock of cold water might cause hyperventilation, a significant risk for those with respiratory ailments like asthma. Individuals with sensitive skin could also experience adverse reactions. These insights underscore the need for caution and the importance of tailor-fit recovery strategies. « This brewing habit could silently hurt you »: these common coffee preparation methods directly linked to increased heart disease risk Study Highlights Gender Gap in Sports Science The Swiss trial stands out for focusing specifically on women, a demographic often overlooked in sports science. Historically, males have dominated studies on training and recovery, leading to a skewed understanding of how these processes work across genders. This study emphasizes the necessity for more inclusive research that considers sex-specific physiological responses and real-world workout contexts. The researchers advocate for future studies that better represent the female population and address the unique needs and responses women might have to recovery protocols. Such research is crucial for developing effective, gender-sensitive recovery strategies in sports and fitness. 'China Can See the Invisible': Beijing Unveils Handheld Tech That Locates U.S. Stealth Aircraft With Pinpoint Accuracy Smarter Ways to Recover In light of the study's findings, alternative recovery methods are gaining attention. Dr. Ravina Bhanot of Zonas Fertility advises a holistic approach focusing on fundamental recovery pillars. She emphasizes the importance of quality sleep, adequate hydration, and balanced nutrition, particularly protein intake, to support muscle repair and growth. Incorporating light activities like walking or yoga, along with occasional massages or heat therapy, can also enhance recovery without the potential risks associated with cold plunges. This comprehensive approach aligns more closely with sustainable wellness practices, offering a safer and potentially more effective path to recovery. As the conversation around cold plunges and their efficacy continues, one must consider whether the icy allure is truly beneficial or merely a trend. With research unveiling new insights, the question remains: How will future studies shape our understanding of effective recovery strategies for both men and women? Did you like it? 4.5/5 (21)
