Author: CAPE Bionics

3D scanning allows us to produce highly accurate and beneficial custom-fit compression garments. Scanning is much faster than traditional measuring tapes, it takes more measurements, it is more accurate, and it has a theatre about it that athletes love.  We initially used professional scanning units, but soon developed smaller, cheaper, easier and more deployable technologies based on iPads.  Our technology is now recognised as world leading. We were recently requested to demonstrate it to the European Space Agency, and trial two of our scanning technologies at NASA in Houston. NASA plans to deploy our technology on orbit to understand how the body changes

With the start of the new year, it’s time to rethink compression.   Until recently athletes could only choose retail compression, which means that lots of different players are wearing the same size garments.   This means the compression is all over the place, and the outcome is a guess.  For example, one size in a commercially available brand is suggested to fit athletes ranging from 150-185cm and 65-90kg!   Hill et al. (2015) showed considerable variation in the pressure exerted by commercially available compression garments, and it has also been shown that poorly fitting garments have no effect or even

Compression garments have been shown to improve athlete recovery, but what about injury prevention? We take a look into some of the latest research on whether compression garments can play a role in reducing risk of injuries. What do athletes think about compression for injury? In a recent study investigating lower body compression garment use by athletes, over 500 athletes were asked to provide information regarding their reasons for using compression garments and their perceived benefits (Franke et al., 2021). The primary reason that these athletes used compression garments was to prevent reinjury, with 48% of athletes reporting this as

Dr Ian McKeown, Vice President of Athlete Performance and Wellness, at the Philadelphia Flyers, always wants to make sure his players feel more prepared than anyone else. “We’re covering all bases with them and this is a great tangible example of us giving each individual exactly what they need.” By using 3D scanned compression, each player receives custom fitted garments which apply accurate compression for proven benefits. Dr McKeown emphasises how important this is to professional athletes. “In professional sport, players are all shapes and sizes, they don’t fit standard sized garments. The players love the custom fit of CAPE,

Compression garments have been widely used by soccer players for many years. We take a look into the demands of the game, competition schedules and how compression garments can assist soccer players with performance, recovery, and busy travel schedules. Demands of professional soccer The physiological demands of a professional soccer match are high. It has been reported that professional soccer players on average cover 10-12 km during a game at various different intensities (Di Salvo et al., 2013). On average, during a high-level soccer game, players engage in physical activities of high intensity every 60 seconds and can perform up

Compression garments work but only if they fit perfectly and apply the correct compression regime. Research has shown that off the shelf compression garments provide variable levels of compression and inconsistent benefits (Hill et al., 2015). Custom fit is the only way to ensure that each athlete receives accurate compression for positive benefits every time. Think of it this way: with standard sized garments, a few athletes may receive positive benefits, but only if by chance the garment fits their body shape and size perfectly. Highly unlikely for most people, especially elite athletes who are not typical shapes and sizes!

CAPE Bionics have revolutionised athletic compression wear by using scientific principles from the design of spacesuits to produce the most advanced compression garments both on and off the planet! The application of Space Science to Sports Science CAPE Bionics founder Dr James Waldie has spent over 20 years researching and designing compression suits for astronauts. He was involved with a number spacesuit programs with MIT, NASA and the European Space Agency, and developed his own skinsuit design which was used on the International Space Station. Space travel places a huge amount of physiological strain on the human body. The weightlessness

With the start of the NRL season underway and the AFL season just days away, we look into how team sport athletes can use custom fit compression to get a competitive edge. The importance of custom fit compression Within a professional sports team, there are players of all different shapes and sizes. Therefore the only way to ensure each player receives optimal compression is to have garments custom fitted based on a 3D scan. Custom fit provides the highest level of precision with no two garments sized exactly the same. Standard sized (off the shelf) compression garments are based purely

Many devices and modalities are used by athletes to facilitate recovery, however nothing provides greater value for money than custom fit compression. Here’s why: Research has shown that wearing custom fit compression garments results in faster recovery of lower body strength in rugby players following exercise induced muscle damage. When custom fit compression garments were worn, recovery of lower body strength was 10% greater than off the shelf compression or no compression. Lower body strength performance returned to baseline values after 24 hours with custom fit compression however was still impaired after 48 hours when commercially available garments were worn