Omega Wave, Physical Therapy and Human Performance
When it comes to movement, performance or anyone of our biological systems the nervous system is front and center. Elements of respiration, digestion and muscle activity all rely on our nervous system and the better the nervous system is functioning the better the other systems of our body will function too. The Omega Wave is a tool that can help coaches, athletes and non-athletes alike to better understand their bodies and the effects that training and daily life can have. I am super excited to have this system as a part of our assessment and treatment/training process. I want to introduce Mark McLaughlin and let him talk more about the Omega Wave and his role with us here at Therapydia Portland.
Hello I would like to introduce myself, my name is Mark McLaughlin and I am a sport fitness coach and health and wellness consultant. Over the past 13 years, I have trained over 700 athletes from every competitive level, ranging from Olympic, professional (NFL, MLB, CFL), college, high school athletes, and adults looking to improve their fitness, along with health and well being. I now work as a private Physical Preparation Coach, in addition to consulting with numerous professional organizations and lecturing across the United States. I have been using the Omegawave since 2003 and consider it to be an essential tool for optimizing the training of all the athletes and adult fitness clients. In 2003, I was set to open my own private training facility for athletes and I knew I needed technology that would allow me to test and monitor my athletes to make sure the training was effective, in terms of resulting in the specific biological adaptations desired. During my research at that time I learned about a company out of Omegawave (www.omegawave.com).
To give one a very brief overview on how the Omegawave actually works, here is what takes place in as little as two and a half minutes. While the athlete is at rest, the Omegawave collects ECG and DC potential through a series of electrodes that are placed on specific points of the body. The information is then processed through the following three methods to complete the assessment. The Heart Rate Variability (HRV) method is used to assess the state of the cardiac and autonomic nervous systems. The differential ECG method is used to assess the state of aerobic and anaerobic systems as well as Heart Rate at Anaerobic Threshold. Finally, the Omega method measures the DC potential and is used to assess the state of the Central Nervous System. Once the process is complete, an athlete readiness screen comes up to display the readiness of the multiple biological systems, identifying the ones that are ready to proceed with training and others that might require additional rest and recovery.
The key point that one must understand is that performance enhancement can come in many ways and it is not simply about “hard work”, not even simply the right kinds of hard work for a particular sport, event, or position. To maximize performance improvements in both sport and life, and minimize the potential for injury and over-training, an athlete needs the right KIND of work at the right TIME and also needs to adjust their recovery methods and nutrition based on their current physical condition.
Based on multiple physiological markers, it might be appropriate to reduce an athlete’s workload or increase the volume of specific training, but unless you know what an athlete’s limiting factors are on a daily or weekly basis you are really just guessing at what type of workout would be optimal at any given time. This means you are not maximizing the results of the athlete’s time and effort and in a lot of cases limiting or wasting their potential (through injury, over-training, etc).
I am very excited with the opportunity to begin working the clients at Therapydia Portland. Joshua has a very pro-active approach to both physical therapy and the after care. I am really looking forward to this collaboration.
