π πΉ Upside: Thermography Ecosystem Analysis (Key Vendors, Trends, Recommendations to teams)
Over the last decade, injury risk assessment has become a major challenge for many pro teams and leagues. As part of that, thermography has emerged as a new way for pro teams to help reduce the risk of injuries with high level of accuracy. This is having a profound impact on pro teams in terms of playersβ monitoring, recovery or injury prevention.
In this analysis, we will provide an overview of the current and future trends, the thermography vendor ecosystem and the key players. We will also provide recommendations to teams and leagues on how to successfully implement a thermography solution.
Average team in English Premier League pays $12M in wages to players who are unavailable for selection due to injury.Β Resulting loss of league points contributes another $48M in lost potential incomes.
As we mentioned before, in professional sport, the amounts spent on wages lost when players are unavailable for selection justify employing a whole army of injury prevention experts and adopting injury risk assessment tools like thermography solutions.
As an example, an average team in the English Premier League pays an estimated $12M in wages to players who are unavailable for selection due to injury over the course of one season(12).Β In addition, the resulting loss of league points contributes another $48M in lost potential income(12). Similar results are evident across other professional sports leagues (see figure 3). While injuries in amateur sport do not result in wasted salary payments, personal cost can be high. An organization sponsoring multiple teams (schools, universities, clubs) could provide tangible benefits to their members if they employed a sports injury prevention professional.
Picture: Financial losses and games lost due to injury
How Thermography works
Generally speaking thermograhy is based on the analysis of temperature. Ismael Fernandez, CEO & cofounder of ThermoHuman, further explains during a podcast interview with the Upside:
βIt's based on the analysis of temperature. So we built metrics based on mainly asymmetries. Theoretically our body should trend with a thermal balance based on the homeostasis principle. So based on that, your left shoulder or left knee should has more or less the same temperature as the right shoulder or knee. So with that in mind, before the athlete starts feeling some discomfort or some pain, we should see this imbalance of temperature. That's whatβs incredible. Here we are talking about a few Celsius degree differences. So obviously there are a lot of temperature differences on the areas of the body. But we are essentially using thermography, and we are not just looking at the color changes, but we built specific metrics to do that. Then from the beginning, what we saw is in order to extract the metrics, you should analyze the image manually. That is something that you can do if you have one staff member dedicated to this task, but obviously if you want to analyze 25 players and you want to get the results as fast as possible, you need a softwareβ.
You can listen to the all podcast interview with Ismael Fernandez, CEO & cofounder of ThermoHuman here.
Picture: Ismael Fernandez, CEO& cofounder, ThermoHuman
Growing number of teams using thermography because it is fast, easy to use and non invasive.
Ismael Fernandez, CEO & cofounder of ThermoHuman, further explains during a podcast interview with the Upside that many teams use thermography because it is fast, easy to use and non invasive.
βThe teams and professionals using thermography in their teams highlight thermography for different reasons: firstly becauseΒ it is easy, fast and non-invasive (taking images before training, less than 30 seconds per player), secondly because it is anΒ objective metric about the internal load (temperature and its relationship physiology and workload assimilation) and thirdly most importantly, becauseΒ it works. Obviously we are not able to detect 100% of issues but we have confirmed that thermography can (on average) detect injuries/discomfort in 75% of cases before it happens or gets worseβ, said Ismael Fernandez, CEO & cofounder of ThermoHuman.
Thermography has helped teams reduce muscle injuries by 65%-75%
Over the past few years, a growing number of pro teams (NBA, NFL, MLS, Laliga, Premier League, etc.) have started to use thermography as a way to help prevent injuries. ThermoHuman, one of the leading vendors in the space, has helped some teams reduce muscle injuries by 63%-74%. Ismael Fernandez, CEO & cofounder of ThermoHuman, further explains during a podcast interview with the Upside:
βOne of my colleagues who has a PhD published a paper in a scientific journal showing that our technology resulted into into a 70% injury reduction in muscle injuries. But it's not the only scientific result that we have. We have another report published with the Corinthians, which showed that with our technology this Brazilian soccer team saw a 63% reduction in muscle injuries and other teams in LaLiga and Portugal saw a 74% reduction in muscle injuries. Basically everything is based on the comparison of two different sessions. The first one without using thermography. And in the second session, we are adding to the same group of players a protocol of intervention based on thermography. So we have now enough evidence with soccer teams in Brazil, Spain, and Portugal. At the end of the day, our scientific reports (see graph below) have shown a significant reduction in muscle injuries between 63% and 74%β, said Ismael Fernandez, CEO & cofounder of ThermoHuman.
Here is a video from ThermoHuman explaining how Fluminense FC a top Brazilian soccer team, is using ThermoHuman today to help reduce injuries.
Video: ThermoHuman, Fluminense FC.
The future of thermography is about AI, and figuring out the relationship between thermal metrics and fatigue/performance.
Ismael Fernandez, CEO & cofounder of ThermoHuman, also explained during our podcast interview with us that the future of thermography is about AI, and figuring out the relationship between thermal metrics and fatigue/performance.
We have alreadyΒ a solid base of scientific evidence, but we need further research and development. Regarding research, we are looking for more evidence about thermal patterns before injury depending on the tissue and discipline, and also the relationship between thermal metrics and fatigue/performance. On the other hand, we are working on developing and implementing artificial intelligence to transfer those results to features that can be used through our softwareβ, said Ismael Fernandez, CEO & cofounder of ThermoHuman.
Thermography vendor ecosystem
Letβs start by defining the key segments of the thermography vendor ecosystem:
(1) Thermography solution vendors: This typically includes companies that built Thermography solutions (advanced camera + software). Companies like ThermoHuman fall into this category. Companies like ThermoHuman, which is based on the analysis of temperature, have built metrics mainly based on asymmetries and help teams reduce muscle injuries and quantify internal load. Other key vendors in this category are OmniAthlete and Apollo.
(2) Thermography camera vendors: This typically includes companies that built advanced infrared cameras. Thermographic camera (also called an infrared camera or thermal imaging camera, thermal camera or thermal imager) is a device that creates an image using infrared (IR) radiation, similar to a normal camera that forms an image using visible light. Companies like Flir, Fluke, HIKMICRO, HT instruments, Thermal seek, ICI, TESTO, fall into this category.
(3) Thermography software vendors: This typically includes companies that built Thermography solutions (software only). Companies like ThermoHuman, Monilabb, Kelvin +, Aivision, fall into this category.
Source: Upside Global, 2022
Key Injury Risk Assessment Solutions vendors
1. ThermoHuman
Founded:Β 2011
HQ: Madrid (Spain)
Amount money raised: Self funded
Website: http://www.thermohuman.com
Investors:Β None
Total employees: 10
Customers / partners:Β New York Knicks (NBA), Inter Miami FC (MLS), Orlando City (MLS), FC Barcelona (LaLiga), VfL Wolfsburg (Bundesliga), Mexican Football FederationΒ or Panathinaikos BC (Greece), Sevilla FC, FC Emirates, PSG, FC Orenburg, just to name a few.
Company/product description:Β ThermoHuman is a pioneer company specialized in the application of Infrared Thermography for injury prevention/monitoring and internal load quantification. Fast, non-invasive and objective skin temperature measurement. For that, we provide thermal cameras, training and our unique software using computer vision algorithms and AI to helpΒ sport and health professionals to better understand thermal physiology and to provide better decision making. 12 years of experience, 52 scientific articles published and customers in more than 30 countries.
2. OmniAthlete
Founded: 2001
HQ: Italy
Amount money raised: TBD
Sector: Thermography
Website: https://www.omni-athlete.com/infrared-thermography
Investors: TBD
Total employees: TBD
Customers / partners: Vald, Myontec, Noraxon, Neufit, Firstbeat, Synaptec, Kinduct, Omegawave, just to name a few.
Company/product description: OmniAthlete is a leading sports performance consultancy. Their area of expertise includes injury prevention, sports technology, strength training programming, speed development, recovery monitoring and return to play assessment. They work worldwide sinceΒ 16Β years with semi-professionals, professionals and Olympic athletes as well as professional teams in various disciplines (football, athletics, basketball, rugby, cycling, weightlifting, volleyball, swimming, martial arts, waterpolo, tennis, archery etc.). They are among the leading experts in sports technology and one ofΒ the most requested sports performance consultant in the world because of his unique work with advanced technologies for athlete's assessment and testing (infrared thermography, tensiomyography, foot pressure mapping, myotonometry, EMG and neurofeedback) for injury prevention and performance improvement.
3. Apollo
Founded: TBD
HQ: Brazil
Amount money raised: TBD
Sector: Thermography
Website: https://www.apollo.io
Investors: TBD
Total employees: TBD
Customers / partners: Pro teams (TBD)
Company/product description: Apollo is a leading software thermography solution provider located in Brazil.
4. Monilabb:
Founded:Β 2013
HQ:Β Δ°stanbul, (Turkey)
Amount money raised: TBD
Website:Β Β https://www.monilabb.com/
Investors:Β TBD
Total employees: 12
Customers / partners:Β Besiktas JK, Trabzonspor SK, Basaksehir FK, GΓΆztepe FK, Turkish Football Federation, Turkish Basketball Federation, AcΔ±badem Sports FIFA Center.
Company/product description:Β Monilabb is a next generation Athlete Monitoring & Risk Prediction System developed with data driven and AI based algorithms to prevent injuries and underperformance in sports.Β
The platform was structured between 2012 - 2013 on a preliminary study with an active 10 years of experience on sports science, medicine and technology. First beta version was developed through a busy and global collective process around 2 years; which has been tested in a Super League soccer team and TKBL basketball team during the whole season. It is then dedicated to the sector as a flexible software continuously improved with the feedbacks from active users and researches. Dedicated to sector as a software (SaaS), based on a dynamic and flexible structure which will continuously be improved with guidance of sectoral needs, user feedbacks and scientific researches.
5. Flir:
Founded: 1978
HQ: Wilsonville, Oregon (USA)
Amount money raised: TBD
Sector: Thermography
Website: https://www.flir.com
Investors: N/A (Publicly traded)
Total employees: 3,147
Customers / partners: Soccer teams (Laliga, Premier League, Brazilian soccer league..), Basketball (NBA..) teams, just to name a few.
Company/product description: Teledyne FLIR designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and distributes technologies that enhance perception and awareness. We bring innovative sensing solutions into daily life through our thermal imaging, visible-light imaging, video analytics, measurement and diagnostic, and advanced threat detection systems. Teledyne FLIR offers a diversified portfolio that serves a number of applications in government & defense, industrial, and commercial markets. Our products help first responders and military personnel protect and save lives, promote efficiency within the trades, and innovate consumer-facing technologies. Teledyne FLIR strives to strengthen public safety and well-being, increase energy and time efficiency, and contribute to healthy and intelligent communities.
5. Fluke:
Founded: 2001
HQ: Everett, WA (USA)
Amount money raised: N/A (Publicly traded)
Sector: Thermography
Website: https://www.fluke.com/en-us
Investors: TBD
Total employees: 3,093
Customers / partners: Pro teams (TBD)
Company/product description: Fluke Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Fortive Corporation (NYSE: FTV), is the world leader in the manufacture, distribution and service of electronic test tools and software.
6. HIKMICRO
Founded: 2016
HQ: Hangzhou (China)
Amount money raised: TBD
Sector: Thermography
Website: https://www.hikmicrotech.com/en/
Investors: TBD
Total employees: 607
Customers / partners: Pro teams (TBD)
Company/product description: HIKMICRO is a leading provider of thermal imaging equipment and solutions. Specializing in SoC and MEMS design, development, and manufacturing, the company offers thermal detectors, cores, modules, cameras and total solutions to the global market, serving customers in more than 100 countries and regions. HIKMICRO places a high value on research and development, empowering its continual progress in thermal technology. The company earned ISO9001 certification in 2018, demonstrating its quality-first philosophy from the very start. Through continuous innovation, HIKMICROβs products and solutions constantly meet the diverse needs of individual, commercial, industrial, and utility customers around the world. HIKMICRO will continue to provide professional software and hardware products for its expanding list of business partners, working together to build a safer, smarter, and more efficient world.
7. Kelvin +:
Founded: 2018
HQ: SΓ£o Paulo (Brazil)
Amount money raised: TBD
Sector: Thermography
Website: www.kelvin.plus www.radsquare.ai
Investors: TBD
Total employees: 10
Customers / partners: Brazilian soccer teams (Palmeiras FC, Botafogo FC, San Paolo FC, Cuiaba FC,
Company/product description: Kelvin+ is an assisted diagnostics platform that allows teams to analyze and interpret thermal images of the human body in real time. The software helps to identify areas at risk of injury and allows the healthcare professional to make quick and effective decisions, as it offers complete information about the area being checked. All this in a user-friendly and intuitive interface. Due to the large number of activities and physical load, high performance athletes have different recovery rates, many have instability during the process and this increases the risk of injuries. Kelvin+ provides data that facilitates the analysis of the information collected, collaborating assertively for the development of an activity and recovery plan for each case.
8. Aivision:
Founded: TBD
HQ: Turkey
Amount money raised: TBD
Sector: Thermography
Website: https://www.aivisiontech.net
Investors: TBD
Total employees: 7
Customers / partners: Pro teams (TBD)
Company/product description: Aivision is a technology company that analyzes data obtained from different imaging modalities (thermal, hyperspectral, 3D, etc.) with artificial intelligence.
9. HT Instruments:
Founded: 1983
HQ: Faenza, Ravenna (Italy)
Amount money raised: TBD
Sector: Thermography
Website: https://www.ht-instruments.us
Investors: TBD
Total employees: 42
Customers / partners: Pro teams (TBD)
Company/product description: HT Instruments is a leading firm specialized in design, development and production of electrical safety verification tools, for grid analysis and energy consumption, tools for the verification, testing and maintenance of photovoltaic systems.
10. Thermal Seek:
Founded: 2012
HQ: Santa Barbara (USA)
Amount money raised: $40M
Sector: Thermography
Website: https://www.thermal.com
Investors: TBD
Total employees: 69
Customers / partners: Pro teams (TBD), firefighting, law enforcement companies.
Company/product description: Seek Thermal engineers and manufactures low-cost, high-resolution thermal imaging cameras and OEM thermal cores. Founded by industry pioneers who spent 40 years advancing the state of military and professional-grade thermal technologies, Seek Thermal has developed a breakthrough line of products at competitive price points making this technology more accessible to manufacturers and end users. The companyβs products serve the firefighting, law enforcement and commercial markets, among others, under its own brand and OEM offerings
11. ICI:
Founded: 1995
HQ: Beaumont, TX (USA)
Amount money raised: TBD
Sector: Thermography
Website: https://infraredcameras.com
Investors: TBD
Total employees: TBD
Customers / partners: Pro teams (TBD)
Company/product description: Trusted and tested since 1995, ICI develop unprecedented technology to provide the very best thermal cameras and infrared systems. Their mission is to develop and manufacture the most sensitive, accurate, and competitively priced infrared cameras in the world. Their products revolutionize work across a vast number of settings and professions.
12. Testo:
Founded: 1957
HQ: Lenzkirch (Germany)
Amount money raised: TBD
Sector: Thermography
Website: https://www.testo.com
Investors: TBD
Total employees: 467
Customers / partners: Pro teams (TBD)
Company/product description: Testo is a world leader in the design, development, and manufacture of portable test and measurement instrumentation and solutions. Backed by 60 years of measuring engineering experience, our mission is to provide the best quality, service, and value in the industry. In addition, Testo is recognized as the leading worldwide manufacturer of portable combustion efficiency analyzers and air emission analyzers. Testo has become a major supplier of HVAC, critical HVAC, refrigeration, airflow, and environmental monitoring instruments for markets as diverse as chemical, food service and production, pharmaceutical and biotechnology, and residential HVAC suppliers.
Recommendations to teams and leagues looking to adopt a thermography solution
Here are some recommendations for teams or leagues looking to adopt a thermography solution:
Adopt a thermography solution to complement other injury prevention tools: This is probably one of the most important points. Ismael Fernandez, CEO & cofounder, ThermoHuman, explains during an interview with The Upside: βInfrared thermography should not be understood as the final solution for injury prevention or improving recovery post exercise. It is another interesting technology that has been provedΒ to help reducingΒ muscleΒ injuries, quantifying return to play decisions and individualizing the recovery strategy after competition. If teams are looking for a solution to face these challenges, thermography is definitelyΒ a very interestingΒ alternativeβ.
Make sure the performance staff and coach like and understand the tools to assess injuries. The communication and coordination between staff and professionals is critical: This is another critical factor when teams are looking to adopt a thermograhy solution. Ismael Fernandez, CEO & cofounder, ThermoHuman, explains during an interview with The Upside: "There are two things (besides the utility and efficiency of a tool/technology) that are extremelyΒ important when adopting an injury risk assessment tool: firstly, the importance of the professionals, because no matter how automatic and intelligent a technology is, the final decision is made by professionals, so make sure they like, understand and are able and available to use the tool. And secondly and even more relevant, the communication and coordination between staff and professionals, because if the people involved are not aligned, even the best technology will be absolutely pointlessβ.
Make sure you implement a valid and objective method when implementing thermography and get advised and get trained by an expert showing the pros and cons: This is another key point. Ismael Fernandez, CEO & cofounder, ThermoHuman, explains during an interview with The Upside: βWe like to think that thermography is the same for internal load as GPS is for external load. So any team or sports professional looking for quantifying and tracking in a fast, non invasive and objective way internal load should think about using thermography on a regular basis. The main risk here is to use it properly, Why? becauseΒ thermography can be used visually (just observing the images) or both qualitative and quantitative (using software and proper methodology). Indeed, the reputation of thermography in the medical sector is very damaged because of a misuse of thermography for diagnosing, so please, if you are considering to use infrared thermography, make sure you implement a valid and objective method and you get advised and trained by an expert showing the pros and consβ.
Focus on a thermography vendor with great customer service: This is another key factor when buying a thermography solution. It is important for the team to adopt a system with great customer service. Some vendors provide staff members who can go on the customerβs site in order to assist teams with any problems. These are the type of vendors that teams need to work with when adopting a thermography solution.
Focus on thermography vendors that meets the teamsβ budget and without long term contracts: Sometimes we hear from teams that they are locked into long term contracts by some vendors. Therefore it is important for teams to look for vendors that offer pricing flexibility (1 year contract, etc) as well as affordable pricing options based on the teamsβ needs. Granted some teams have bigger budgets than others and can afford to pay for more expensive thermograhy solutions but many pro teams do not. As they say βone size does not fit allβ.
Bottom line: We believe that we are in the first inning of a true revolution in the world of thermography solutions. Algorithms, Artificial intelligence, advanced cameras, are getting better every year. Therefore, in the coming years we expect to see the emergence of more advanced thermography solutions that will help teams better assess and prevent injuries. Granted some teams are better at trying to prevent injuries than others. And injuries are sometimes unpracticable even with the best athletic training staff and technologies in the world. However, what matters is that the athletic training staff uses the proper tools like thermography to try to mitigate the risk of injuries.
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