iPlayHockey had the opportunity to speak with Josh Adams from Sway Medical, to ask him about their platform, how the technology can be used, and how Sway Medical came to be.
Check out their website now, or contact Sean Sweeney at sean@axonsportottawa.com or 613-883-4610 for more information!
How did Sway Medical come to be and why was the company originally founded?
Sway Medical was founded by Chase Curtis back in 2011 while he was doing some PhD work on balance with a biodex and a force plate. He thought to himself that there has to be a better way to measure balance without using a $30,000 piece of equipment tied to the floor. So out of that thought process, Sway came to be while also utilizing the technology that already existed within smartphones.
Tell us about the Sway system - how does it work and what is it used for?
The Sway system is ultimately a platform that utilizes global device technology to measure postural sway, so balance, and also objective reaction time measures, to help people in sport understand if an athlete has experienced a brain injury or concussion.
Who does Sway Medical work with?
Sway primarily works with athletic trainers, physical therapists, as well as youth sport organizations.
How can Sway Medical be useful for hockey players and teams?
By being a mobile technology, it allows the information, data and tests to be performed in virtually any setting. The technology is on the device that they already own, meaning baseline tests and post-injury tests can be done at the rink, in the locker room, or directly after an incident.
What would you say to teams that are potentially hesitant to implement something such as this?
I would say that for roughly the cost of a t-shirt for an annual subscription, it would make sense to have this sophisticated technology at their disposal to protect their players.
