ProbeFix Dynamic used to understand persistent pain during functional movement in runners preparing for Eindhoven Marathon.
Thousands of runners have put their minds and bodies to the limit during the Eindhoven Marathon last weekend. Such yearly sports events raise questions such as “how to optimize training, continue running with pain, prevent injuries and how to ensure optimal mindset? Usono was selected with 3 other Eindhoven based start-ups to test their innovations with participants during the training for the ASML marathon.
Usono CEO Victor Donker, orthopedic ultrasound specialist Stephan Konijnenberg, physiotherapist Adriaan van Dijsseldonk and one of the participants. © René Manders/DCI Media
“This region is the center of innovation in Europe, and sports and exercise are very important for physical and mental health,” says Maes van Lanschot, Eindhoven’s alderman for sports. That is why the municipality launched the Marathon Innovation Challenge. The event is one of the largest in the south of the Netherlands, with tens of thousands of runners participating.
Usono participated with the ProbeFix Dynamic to show ultrasound clips while participants were making specific movements during which they felt the pain in for example their calf or knee. The tests were conducted at NOC*NSF High Performance Center Anna TopSupport. Doctor Stephan Konijnenberg from OrtUs in Schijndel is a highly experienced sonographer who interpreted the moving ultrasound images while physiotherapist Adriaan van Dijsseldonk assisted the athletes with functional exercises matching the insights of dr. Konijnenberg.
In the video below you can see a runner walking on a treadmill while the ProbeFix is being applied to the knee. Multiple studies such as Dynamic ultrasound reveals the specific behavior of the medial meniscus extrusion in patients with knee osteoarthritis show that while walking a Medial Meniscus shows 14% more extrusion compared to being at rest in supine position.
Injuries can be stubborn and MRI scans and static echoes do not always indicate where the problem lies, explains Victor Donker. “For that, we believe that the ultrasound scan should be made in motion.” ProbeFix is already being used by physiotherapists and sports doctors at major foreign football clubs such as the Italian Torino CF, Spanish Villarreal CF and Mexican club Necaxa. Victor continued: “Local projects help us to get direct feedback from local experts, to understand the added value both for elite athletes as well as recreational athletes, as we want to be of value to society”.
We were present at this very exciting race and saw the finish of top runners such as Enock Kinyamal completing the full marathon in 2.06.28 and runners of our project finishing the half marathon in very respectable times. Congratulations to all participants!
The local newspaper Eindhovens Dagblad published an article about the Innovation Challenge prior to the running weekend. The full article can be found via the following link (in Dutch and for premium members): https://www.ed.nl/eindhoven/een-mobiele-echo-steunzolen-of-een-app-die-stress-te-lijf-gaat-marathonlopers-testen-innovaties-waar-iedereen-wat-aan-heeft~a9f8cb01/
Other innovations
Alphabeats: An app that helps athletes improve their focus before competitions and relax after exercise by listening to their favourite music.
Aristotle Technologies: The program trains the brain of athletes, allowing them to stay better focused during training and competitions and make healthier decisions.
PodoPrinter: A 3D printer that makes insoles without waste, completely customized for the athlete. This ensures better support and a more sustainable production process.