No Strain
Sleeve
Report Test
Dott. Mauro Testa
Table of Contents
Vibration Assessment
One of the analyses made possible by our technology is vibration assessment. Vibrations are nothing more than accelerations; having an accelerometer at hand makes it easy to collect data on them. We normally evaluate accelerations in amplitude, i.e. their data in relation to their evolution in a positive direction (against gravity, e.g. in the vertical axis) or in a negative direction (towards gravity).
To measure vibrations, we need to read them in frequency, i.e. how many acceleration peaks are read over time, e.g. in a second or more, deriving the frequency in Hertz. Our sensors allow us to collect data at a frequency of 100 Hertz, or 100 data points per second.
In this way, we can not only assess the impact of vibrations on an athlete, but also validate anti-vibration tools, which are very important for the physical well-being of athletes in many sports.
Example of application: Evaluation of the vibration dispersion between the right and left limbs with the subject standing on a vibration platform and comparison of vibrations between the right and left limb with those read at the pelvis. In this case, the left limb is more rigid and transmits vibrations with a higher datum and a delta with the data read at the pelvis higher by more than 10 hertz.
Example of how the system is used to validate an anti-vibration arm sleeve. Reducing vibrations is essential to protect elbow structures (epicondylitis and epitrochleitis) in many sports where a tool is used, such as a racquet in tennis or paddle, a club in golf and baseball, but also where there are frequent impacts with a ball, e.g. volleyball, basketball and goalkeeping in football. Or reduce stress at shoulder level, where vibrations rise from the hand upwards, e.g. in cycling, motorcycling and motor racing.
The beneficial effect of reducing these is the improvement and prevention of inflammatory vibratory stress conditions in tendons and their exacerbation, such as epicondylitis and epitrochleitis.
Materials
The device to be validated is an arm sleeve made with a yarn containing F.I.R. (Far Infrared Rays) technology, which has been shown in several studies to have anti-inflammatory benefits.
In addition, the fabric is designed to compress more in well-defined areas of the arm, and a silicone screen print is added to provide the compressive effect in the areas where it is needed and to increase vibration absorption.
As materials, we used the electromyographic net developed by Myontec and placed a sensor in the arm holding the vibrating instrument. By activating it, we were able to read both the positive and negative vibrations generated during the test in the three spatial directions.
The potential of the evaluation is very wide, it can also be carried out only in the direction of the positive peaks, thus excluding a part of the wave. The programme tells us the number of peaks analysed and calculated, the frequency in Hertz and the interval between one peak and the next in tenths of a second.
Methods
Our tests use a new feature developed in the Biomovie video analysis software that allows us to read out the positive and negative acceleration peaks in a time interval.
In the test, a position was chosen in which the subject was static in a natural posture with his arms at his sides and with a vibrating object in his hand with controlled vibration.
Why this position? The choice of this position was made in order to eliminate the variables associated with certain sporting movements, where muscular contractions and directions in space are always different in each gesture, making it impossible to control the variables. In this way, only the vibration-absorbing capacity of the arm sleeve was analysed.
The vibrations recorded in the X-Y-Z axes were transformed by the resultant rule into a single vibration containing all the dispersions of the accelerations and thus the vibrations in the three axes of space. In fact, the vibrations/accelerations are not transmitted in a single axis but in all directions of space.
We tested 8 subjects, 4 men and 4 women, each of whom was asked to stay in the required position for one and a half minutes, repeating the test without the arm sleeve and with the arm sleeve.
We have chosen an equal reading interval for all test subjects of 15 seconds +/- a few tenths of a second. We have found that an interval of 15 seconds is sufficient to guarantee accuracy and avoid creating excessively large files.
Important note on sizing: We only had one measurement to check. In the cases where the subject seemed to increase the vibrations, we analysed the diameter of the arm and found that it was small for the measurement we had, so we hypothesised an increase due to this factor. This non-positive data underlines the importance of choosing the right garment size.
Test Data
The data was compared, those with a blue graph were without the arm sleeve, those with an orange graph were wearing the new arm sleeve. We can see not only the change in frequency, but also the change relative to the interval time.
| Subject | Without No Strain (Hz) | With No Strain (Hz) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28.95 | 25.5 |
| 2 | 19.32 | 21.63 |
| 3 | 22.56 | 20.63 |
| 4 | 38.36 | 27.83 |
| 5 | 42.25 | 33.86 |
| 6 | 32.18 | 24.65 |
| 7 | 44.41 | 35.86 |
| 8 | 21.55 | 24.04 |
| Total | 249.58 | 214 |
| Average | 31.19 | 26.75 |
The data shows a significant improvement in vibration frequency, reducing it by almost 15%.
| Result | Scientific Benefit | Technical Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Significant reduction in vibrations |
|
|
Benefits
Results from comparison with standard technical sleeves. Significant reduction in vibrations caused by the tape system combined with strategic compression zones.
Enhanced circulation through graduated compression technology, promoting better oxygen delivery and faster recovery.
F.I.R. (Far Infrared Rays) technology has been shown in several studies to have anti-inflammatory benefits, reducing muscle soreness and accelerating recovery.
Promotes muscle relaxation and reduces tension, allowing athletes to maintain optimal performance throughout extended periods of activity.
Scientific Data and Benefits Summary
RESULT
Significant reduction in vibrations
SCIENTIFIC BENEFIT
- Lower vibrational stress on structures
- Reduction of inflammatory processes
TECHNICAL BENEFIT
- Increased performance duration
- Reduces elbow pain while competing
- Allows body strength to be maintained over time
+ TAPE SYSTEM
Study Conclusion: The benefits of this drastic reduction in vibration indicate a significant increase in the benefits to structures that are otherwise subjected to constant vibrational stress. Studies in both sports and ergonomics emphasise the importance of controlling WBV (Whole Body Vibration) to reduce inflammation, bursitis and muscle damage caused by vibration.
Our data confirms a reduction in vibration with the arm sleeve of almost 15%.