Athletes are a special division of people set apart from the rest. Call them super
humans, if you’d like. Studies show that athletes have lower risks of
contracting disease, a higher tolerance for pain and have better mental clarity
and focus when compared to the average person.
These
powerhouse individuals are always pushing their limits, physically and
mentally, as their lives encompasses the need to be better than their fellow
athletes or themselves as a whole, but that comes with a price; the need to
take extra care of their bodies.
“When I was young, I did not think I needed a
physiotherapist until later on in life,” communicated Caroline Wozniaki, a
former World No.1 on the WTA and winner of the BMW Malaysian Open 2015, during
a GE forum at the tournament titled ‘Health and Innovation@Work.’ The tennis
star stressed the importance of keeping the body’s conditions under control and
being in top shape in order to be able to give it all.
Impact injuries are one of the hurdles that a tennis player experiences. The collision that happens between a player’s limbs and the hard surface of a court is enough to put one out of the game for months on end, with injuries such as sprains and strains, dislocations or even broken bones.
Like most hurdles, this is one that does not spell a dead end but in fact, one that needs a little bit of effort to overcome.
With the advent of technology, researchers and scientists are always looking for ways to enhance the quality of life and the sports sector is certainly not one left behind. Innovation has brought about ways to make the sporting experience more enjoyable, and that includes minimizing injuries or strain for an athlete.
One of the highlights in sports innovation for tennis are cushioned hard courts where various material such as acrylic, rubber and silica, to name a few, are layered on top of the other to absorb shock, reducing the risk of impact injuries on body joints on a player. Very widely used in professional and recreational tennis, cushioned tennis courts have helped people push their limits when it comes to the game, a testament of how innovation plays a big part in the sports arena.
General Electric, a huge supporter of sports innovation, has always looked for ways to contribute to the sporting community. Using their slogan, ‘Imagination at work’ as a mantra for progression in this field, they leave no stone unturned.
At the BMW Malaysia Open 2015 General Electric forum, ‘Health and Innovation@Work’, facilitated by Malaysia’s first Formula One driver, Alex Yoong, an impressive panel comprising former WTA World No.1 Caroline Wozniaki, the National Institute of Sports, Malaysia (ISN), Dato’ Dr. Ramlan Abdul Aziz, former CEO of the Catherham Group, Riad Asmat and GE Regional Medical Director of ASEAN, Dr. Abed Onn, discussed the mechanics of sports performance and innovation, through support from various aspects.
Riad
Asmat expressed how working closely with General Electric in the past has
brought about almost immediate results in the Catherham Group. A collaboration
between the two companies brought about a state-of-the-art 1.6 liter V6 engine,
smaller and more fuel-efficient than its bulky 2.4 litre V8 predecessor, paving
the path for a new generation of Formula 1 race cars.
Like
all good things, change comes from the inside out, and General Electric is
fully aware of that. In 2011, General Electric implemented the HealthAhead, an
employee-wellness program designed to advocate the importance of living
healthier through better eating and fitness programs. Such initiatives
translates a fostered desire for self-improvement into a passion for innovation
in their field of work, a win-win situation for all.
From
supporting world-class sports events to investing in the advancement in sports
technology, General Electric has its eyes firmly fixed on making the world of
sports a better place. Even superhuman athletes need help so they can play
harder, better, faster and stronger.
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