Biokinetics and technology, a match made in health

Important risk factors include high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, smoking, obesity, physical inactivity and an unhealthy diet. Unless addressed with urgency, the mortality from these health problems will continue to increase in our country.

Regular physical activity may reduce the risk of a heart attack, lower blood cholesterol and blood pressure levels, lower the risk of type 2 diabetes and encourage stronger bones and muscles. "There is a demand for skilled intervention for people who are presenting with NCDs who are inactive and need specific medically directed exercise programmes to treat the pathology," says Tony Payne, MD of Technogym.

Technology can be used as a tool to manage and create a measurable impact on the aforementioned health issues while adding value and making interventions simpler, more effective and more accessible to larger population groups. Speaking at the recent Life through Movement International Conference (LTMIC) in Stellenbosch, Payne said no medical professional groups are currently focusing their strategy to address the clinical metabolic health crisis.

"Traditionally, biokineticists have found themselves practicing predominantly either in a rehab or orthopaedic environment. We believe the biokineticist has a primary role to play in dealing with these current, challenging health crises.

"There needs to be a reorganization of the current biokinetic practice structure and business model to be able to address the challenge. A structured training environment together with reliable information and evidence based outcomes needs to be provided to the medical schemes to fund the services."

At the same time, a technological revolution is happening in all industries and the wellness Industry is no exception. Technology can be used as a tool to manage and create a measurable impact on the aforementioned health issues, while adding value and making interventions simpler, more effective and more accessible to larger population groups.

Technogym offer solutions through its equipment, training and cloud based software to provide measurable results and assist biokineticists in their practices. The MyWellness cloud gives biokineticists access to a range of workouts and enables them to create their own workouts suited to their patients' needs.

"The patient's work-out will then be 'saved' in the cloud where it can be monitored, analysed and altered if need be. Our aim is to work with influencers such as biokineticists to create a better world through movement," Payne concludes.