Colorado Rockies take the lead in technology use to keep players fit - MLB News
The Colorado Rockies are taking a step towards better knowledge of why their players get injured. They are the first team to test a new technology that will help the players and trainers with their physical weakness, their nutritional needs and even sleep
patterns.
The device that will soon be used by the Rockies’ players during Spring Training was devised by Sparta Performance Science, a company in the Silicon Valley. The latest tools to be used are doormat look-a-likes that are broader then a human body and contain
a force plate.
The concept is quite simple; the pad will take readings of the physical attributes of a player as he will jump on the force plates. They will create a movement signature for each player and the specifically designed software will give out the data after
processing it.
Basically it is an attempt to take guess work out of physical health. It can detect if there is an issue with how a player does his workouts or if there are specific nutritional needs for that player. The software will even be able to suggest if there is
a need to make changes to the sleep pattern of the given player.
Rockies’ strength coach Brian Jordan has been associated with the Colorado ball club for 15 years now and has been in his current position for five. He explains that the device looks like a doormat though it costs a lot more than a normal doormat.
"It's kind of a thin platform, basically a little wider than the width of our bodies -- kind of like a doormat, almost as thick, but a lot more expensive and a lot better design," Jordan said.
He feels that the new technology will be helpful in pin pointing the actual issues with the player’s physical health and will eliminate guess work. It will be crucial as players will be in improved physical health and able to perform better as a result.
"Instead of subjective data that we've relied on for so long, and which will still be part of the equation, it gives us some authenticated data on our players, and we use that data plus information collected from other athletes," Jordan said. "It paints
us a picture of certain things they can work and help us lock onto the best program for keeping guys healthy and their performance at the highest level."
The technology has been tested on individual basis for years now and a number of athletes have taken part in trials. This is, however, the first time that a Major League team will be testing it.
The Colorado Rockies had a fair share of struggles due to injuries to key players during the 2012 season. The year saw them produce their worst performance in their history and that is something they want to certainly change.
This new technology can be an answer to many professional players’ needs that often get inured but cannot figure out the reasons. With the new technology, we may soon see a greater level of fitness from the professional athletes in the future.
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