Matt Haase, MSOT, OTR/L, LAT, ATC
Back to School is right around the corner. That means kids will be returning to school, sports will begin training, and inevitably, athletes across the country will ramp up preparation for fall and winter competition. Today, everyone is looking for that edge that will give them a leg up on their competition – perhaps to crack the starting lineup, push for a collegiate scholarship, set a new personal record, or return from injury stronger than before. Often people may turn to supplements or endless hours in the weight room or gym, leaving their bodies overworked and depleted of energy. The mantra “no pain, no gain” rings familiar, which justly describes a feeling too well known to individuals trying to gain an edge on their competition, but often leaving their bodies more vulnerable to injury. Would you believe me if I told you the answer to a competitive advantage may lie behind something as simple as a few adhesive pads and 20 minutes of electrical stimulation?
Neufit, the maker of an electrical stimulation treatment device called the Neubie (pronounced New-Be), is at the forefront of cutting-edge technology providing individuals with a unique, competitive advantage over the competition. Many people may be familiar with a more common form of electrical stimulation treatment, called a TENS unit. The Neubie takes this benefit of electronic stimulation far beyond traditional TENS units in many ways:
Physiological response – The Neubie utilizes direct current instead of traditional alternating current which is used in TENS units. As a result, the Neubie is proven effective at targeting the nervous system, which controls physiological responses, rather than just the muscles themselves. This leads to increased effectiveness of healing, muscle repair, and improved tissue and muscle regeneration for peak physical performance.
Neuromuscular Re-education – Due to the Neubie’s unique ability to target the user’s nervous system, the device is effective in re-educating muscles and pathways to work at their optimal performance level. This can positively affect reflex patterns, brain activity, muscle output, and reduce pain.
Functional Performance – The Neubie is used with active body movements, rather than sitting idly as they would with a TENS unit due to a constant, sustained muscle contraction (think of a TENS unit as stepping on the brake and gas pedals of a car at the same time – everything locks up!). As a result, the Neubie enables voluntary, active movement during treatment to optimize movement patterns and move efficiency for optimal muscle function.
Now you have a better understanding of the foundational concepts of the Neubie…but how can it help you?
Reduced recovery time - If you’re recovering from injury and want to be ready for week 1 of competition, or perhaps want to try and finish out a season with an injury, the Neubie can provide effective treatment interventions. According to Neufit, the Neubie has proven to reduce injury healing time by 30-70% which includes major surgeries such as ACL repair, joint replacement, Tommy John surgery, etc.
Strength gain and fat burn - Perhaps you need to cut weight or increase muscle mass to make your targeted weight class for wrestling season; or to add increased power to your swing or shot. Neubie has features that promote muscle strengthening and fat burning to help individuals attain desired outcomes. One of the most effective features of the Neubie is that these results can be obtained without the need for excessive stress on joints or demand on the body. Through electrical stimulation, the Neubie causes muscular contraction, or activation. Rather than having individuals do pushups, biceps curls, or any other exercise until every ounce of strength in their body has been exhausted, the Neubie preserves joint integrity and reduces demands on the body, which achieves similar outcomes. This is an excellent post-operative alternative to speed up the recovery process!
Maximize physical performance – The Neubie is designed to maximize physical performance through feedback provided to the user. Through a unique feedback system, your clinician can assist you in identifying areas of dysfunction within your body. Through fundamental movements, your clinician will utilize the Neubie device to re-educate muscles for optimal performance. This re-education will help overcome areas of weakness and dysfunction and enhance physical performance to achieve your full potential.
While still relatively new to the healthcare and fitness world, the Neubie is revolutionizing training and recovery. Numerous professional athletes and organizations have adopted the use of the Neubie to help accelerate recovery time and enhance performance. Still skeptical on the potential of the Neubie? Virginian Rehabilitation and Wellness proudly owns three Neubie devices as a testament to the excellent clinical outcomes we have received from our use of the device. At Virginian Rehabilitation & Wellness, all our physical and occupational therapists are trained in the use of the Neubie. Don’t wait any longer, get ready for next season now, and come see us to get an edge on the competition!