by Ian Khan | Oct 10, 2023 | Futurist Blog
Dr. Christopher Powers, USC – An internationally recognized expert in biomechanics, Dr. Powers’ work at the Biomechanics Research Laboratory in USC focuses on understanding the mechanical causes of movement-related disorders. His innovative techniques offer new rehabilitation approaches, especially for athletes.
AlterG – Founded by a NASA engineer, AlterG has developed an Anti-Gravity Treadmill that uses unique unweighting technology, allowing for rehabilitation in a reduced weight environment. This has become especially beneficial for athletes recovering from lower limb injuries.
Dr. Tim Gabbett – Renowned for his work on training load and injury prevention, Dr. Gabbett has developed methods to optimize the balance between training and competition demands with injury prevention in athletes.
BTE Technologies – They are a prominent name in sports rehab, with their equipment allowing for functional testing and training. Their devices are often employed to aid athletes in returning to their sport post-injury.
Dr. David Opar – An expert in hamstring injuries, one of the most common afflictions in sports. Dr. Opar’s research in eccentric strength training has guided rehabilitation and prevention strategies for athletes worldwide.
Game Ready – With their advanced injury treatment systems that combine cold therapy and active compression, Game Ready sets a new standard for recovery therapies, especially favored by elite athletes and professional sports teams.
Dr. Trent Stellingwerff, Canadian Sport Institute – His interdisciplinary approach combines nutrition, physiology, and biomechanics to optimize rehabilitation and performance, making him a sought-after expert in the realm of sports recovery.
K-Laser – Specializing in Class IV laser therapy, K-Laser has been a pivotal tool for sports therapists around the globe. Their technology accelerates the healing process, reduces pain, and increases circulation to injured areas.
Dr. Bryan Heiderscheit, University of Wisconsin – Leading the Badger Athletic Performance research group, Dr. Heiderscheit’s work focuses on understanding and enhancing the relationship between movement and musculoskeletal injury, particularly in runners.
HawkGrips – As leaders in Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM), HawkGrips provides tools and education for therapists to treat scar tissue, fascial restrictions, and range of motion issues, which are common hurdles in sports rehabilitation.
by Ian Khan | Oct 10, 2023 | Futurist Blog
Dr. Marcus Elliott, P3 – Founder of the Peak Performance Project (P3), Dr. Elliott has revolutionized athlete assessment using biomechanics. His work emphasizes injury prevention and performance optimization, making him a sought-after expert for NBA and NFL players.
Angus Mugford, Toronto Blue Jays – As the Director of High Performance, Mugford integrates biometrics and psychology to maximize the performance of the Blue Jays’ roster. His unique holistic approach has garnered attention in Major League Baseball.
Catapult Sports – Not an individual but an institution, Catapult has redefined player tracking using wearable tech. Their devices capture real-time biometric data, from heart rate to muscle exertion, transforming how teams analyze athlete performance.
Dr. Leslie Saxon, USC Center for Body Computing – A pioneer in digital health, Dr. Saxon’s research has significant implications for athlete monitoring. Her studies explore remote biometric data collection, enabling coaches to make informed decisions from a distance.
Dr. Daniel Chao, Halo Neuroscience – Co-founder of Halo, Dr. Chao’s company developed a neurostimulation headset to enhance athletic training. The technology optimizes brain plasticity, allowing athletes to learn and adapt faster.
Kitman Labs – Another instrumental company in the space, Kitman Labs utilizes AI and biometric data to predict injury risk. Their platform analyzes athlete movement to flag potential issues, a game-changer for sports teams worldwide.
Dr. Andy Walshe, Red Bull – Formerly Red Bull’s Director of High Performance, Dr. Walshe’s strategies emphasized the importance of biometrics in training elite athletes. His innovative methodologies, combining technology with human potential, have been widely recognized.
Kristen Dieffenbach, West Virginia University – An expert in both sports science and coaching, Dieffenbach’s work emphasizes athlete development and well-being. Her research often intersects with biometrics, especially in understanding training loads and recovery.
Mark Verstegen, EXOS – As the founder of EXOS, Verstegen’s performance systems are built around biomechanics and functional movement. With clients ranging from military personnel to elite athletes, his methodologies have widespread applicability.
Rajiv Maheswaran, Second Spectrum – CEO of Second Spectrum, Maheswaran’s firm focuses on machine learning and computer vision. While known for player tracking in the NBA, their tech also gleans biometric insights, offering comprehensive athlete analyses.
by Ian Khan | Oct 10, 2023 | Futurist Blog
Daryl Morey – Currently the President of Basketball Operations for the Philadelphia 76ers, Morey is credited with pioneering the use of analytics in basketball during his time with the Houston Rockets. His ‘Moreyball’ philosophy is about optimizing player strategies based on statistical analysis.
Billy Beane – The Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations for the Oakland Athletics, Beane’s use of sabermetrics transformed baseball. His approach, detailed in the book and movie “Moneyball”, shifted the focus from traditional scouting to a more stats-driven player evaluation.
Sue Bird – A WNBA legend and part of the Denver Nuggets’ front office, Bird has been a proponent of using data analytics in both her playing and administrative roles. She’s actively pushing for more advanced stats in women’s basketball.
Sam Hinkie – Previously the GM for the Philadelphia 76ers, Hinkie’s “Trust the Process” mantra was about using analytical methods to optimize the team’s performance, even if it meant short-term losses for long-term gains.
Sarah Bailey – A sports analytics researcher at ESPN’s Sports Analytics Team, Bailey dives deep into player stats to derive meaningful insights. Her work has significantly impacted how performances are assessed in multiple sports.
Luke Bornn – The Vice-President, Strategy and Analytics for the Sacramento Kings, Bornn specializes in spatial analytics, shedding light on player movement, game dynamics, and optimizing team strategy.
Dean Oliver – Often referred to as the ‘godfather’ of basketball analytics, Oliver wrote the groundbreaking book “Basketball on Paper”, which laid the foundation for many modern basketball analytics concepts. He has worked with various NBA teams to implement these principles.
Stephanie Kovalchik – A data scientist for Tennis Australia, Kovalchik is pioneering the application of analytics in tennis. She provides insights into player patterns, match strategies, and injury prevention.
Javier Fernandez – A leading figure in soccer analytics, Fernandez works with FC Barcelona, applying machine learning and data analysis to improve team performance, scout opponents, and refine strategies.
Brian Macdonald – Director of Hockey Analytics for the Florida Panthers, Macdonald is at the forefront of incorporating advanced stats into hockey. His work is helping shift old-school hockey beliefs towards a more data-driven approach.
by Ian Khan | Oct 10, 2023 | Futurist Blog
Strivr Labs, led by Derek Belch – A pioneer in the intersection of VR and sports training, Strivr has been transforming how athletes prepare and visualize game scenarios. Derek, a former Stanford football player, has leveraged VR to enhance cognitive training in sports.
Brendan Reilly, EON Sports VR – With a focus on creating hyper-realistic, virtual reality simulations, Reilly’s company provides athletes with scenarios from actual games. The result is enhanced decision-making skills under pressure.
Jeremy Bailenson, Stanford’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab – A pioneer in VR research, Bailenson’s work revolves around understanding how virtual experiences lead to changes in perceptions of self and others. His research aids in optimizing VR for sports training.
Stephen Smith, Kitman Labs – Focusing on injury prevention and player performance, Kitman Labs uses AI and machine learning. While not strictly VR, their approach to sports science intersects with virtual training tools for comprehensive athlete management.
Miha Mikek, Celtra – While primarily a marketing expert, Mikek has explored the intersection of advertising and VR-based sports experiences, offering new insights into virtual sports training’s immersive possibilities.
NextVR – This company has been at the forefront of broadcasting live sports in VR. The detailed immersion provided by their platform can be a valuable tool for athletes to revisit games and learn in a fully immersive environment.
Rajat Gupta, CogniSens – Gupta’s NeuroTracker system, while not VR in the traditional sense, uses 3D multiple object tracking to improve the cognitive abilities of athletes, enhancing focus, attention, and decision-making abilities.
Gerd Schenkel, Leader of Beyond Sports – This company uses virtual reality to analyze and recreate actual game scenarios for players. Their platform provides athletes with a fresh perspective on their game actions, allowing them to reflect and improve.
Luke Goh, VX Sport – An expert in wearables and data analytics, Goh’s work has intersected with virtual training platforms, creating a blend of physical performance tracking with virtual scenario training.
Chris Kluwe, Former NFL Player – Apart from being a professional athlete, Kluwe is a notable tech enthusiast. He’s been an advocate for the potential of VR in transforming sports training, sharing insights from an athlete’s perspective.
