The SportMed Pro-Flo Technology was pioneered by Kenneth Taylor, M.D. and F. Allen Richburg, M.D., along with their colleagues at UCSD and the Pro Sport Med Team, in 1998 when they began researching the effects of cycling on the human anatomy.
The hypothesis for their research was that conventional saddles put a potentially harmful amount of pressure on the perineum - the area between the sit bones and that repeated, long-term compression, may cause permanent and irreversible damage. They also theorized that with proper seat design, the pressure on the perineum could be significantly reduced.
Dr. Taylor & Dr. Richburg set out to prove that cyclists were, in fact, compressing the neuro-vascular bundle and developed research techniques to test for blood-flow and sensation in the perineum. After conducting a clinical trial, Dr. Taylor & Dr. Richburg concluded that 85% of the riders that they tested, showed signs of reduced blood flow and loss of sensation after a one hour ride.
Dr. Taylor & Dr. Richburg helped develop a new saddle that was based on logic and the human anatomy. They knew that if they could subtly shift the rider’s weight from the perineum to the inner thighs and buttocks, that they would be able to significantly reduce the pressure on the perineum.
After countless hours of research in the cadaver lab and clinical trials, Dr. Taylor and Dr. Richburg concluded that their hypothesis held true. Of the 85% of riders tested previously that showed signs of reduced blood flow and loss of sensation on the conventional saddles, only 14% showed the same symptoms on their revolutionary new saddle design.
Their groundbreaking research was published in the Physician and Sportsmedicine Journal in May 2002 and the SportMed Pro-Flo Technolgy was born.
Click on this link to learn more about the study http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/2002/05_02/taylor.htm
Women
During the course of their research, it became apparent to Dr. Taylor & Dr. Richburg that there was a great deal of similarity in the perineum between men and women and that it made sense that women would also suffer from cycling related numbness.
Dr. Taylor & Dr, Richburg conducted another independent, bio-medical study in San Diego in 2000. The results not only showed that, indeed, women do suffer from cycling related numbness, but that it was significantly reduced with the SportMed Pro-Flo Technology.
80% of test subjects reported less genital pain with the SportMed Pro-Flo Technolgy.
73.1% reported less overall discomfort with the SportMed Pro-Flo Technology.
63.5% reported less numbness with the SportMed Pro-Flo Technology.
Grips and Gloves
Dr. Taylor & Dr. Richburg have also applied The SportMed Pro-Flo Technology to grips and gloves.
There is a little known phenomenon called “cyclist’s palsy” which is caused by pressure on the Ulnar nerve & artery. The lack of blood flow to the hand causes a loss of sensation and grip strength.
Dr. Taylor and Dr. Richburg completed their third clinical trial which showed:
87.5% of test subjects that were numb in their right hand using their own grip/glove setup had no numbness and improved grip strength using the SportMed Pro-Flo grip/glove system.
100% of test subjects who were numb in their left hand using their own grip/glove setup had no numbness and improved grip strength using the SportMed Pro-Flo Rx grip/glove system.
The SportMed Pro-Flo Technolgy grips and gloves provide maximum comfort with minimum impact and ensure superior comfort by reducing harmful pressure on the Ulnar nerve and artery.
The results of this study were published at the 2006 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) gripabstract.pdf
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