WIREDGOV

A fitness trainer and a successful inventor have joined forces to develop the first powered stretching machine of its kind which is set to be trialled by a Premiership Football Club and a top Welsh Rugby Club.

The Sports Injury Rehabilitation Assistant or SIRA is ready to be used by Wigan Athletic Football Club and closer to home - by the Ospreys Welsh Rugby Union Team. Interest from other sporting teams has been massive with Manchester City, Fulham, and Arsenal among the many football clubs showing an interest in SIRA.

The team behind the invention bring their own particular strengths to the partnership. Robert Clarke, who runs his own fitness centre in Gorseinon, has worked with more than 300,000 clients in the UK and US during his thirty-year career as a personal trainer.

During that time he developed a specific training regime for stretching and conditioning a range of muscles while entrepreneur and inventor John Lockwood developed the device that replicates those exercises.

SIRA is a powered stretching aid - that the user controls - which stretches the entire posterior muscles groups in two movements. It has an electronic timer, heart rate monitor, is wi-fi enabled with a touch screen displaying real time information.

In-built sensors measure, track and store information from each session providing a benchmark measurement enabling trainers, coaches and physiotherapists to better manage training or rehabilitation programmes.

SIRA is one of several innovative products that will be promoted by the Welsh Assembly Government at this year’s International Exhibition of Inventors in Geneva (April 21-25) which is anticipated to be a record year for the event, attracting 800 exhibitors from around the world.

Robert Clarke and John Lockwood have had help, advice and funding from the Wales Innovators Network, a Welsh Assembly Government service, part funded by the EU, to help budding entrepreneurs and inventors turn good ideas into commercial propositions.

They have also raised funding from private investors and hope to interest potential distributors and licensors with the aim of targeting the medical and fitness markets.

“SIRA is a new concept in fitness and rehabilitation and rather like having your very own physio or trainer,” John explained.

“We spent two years developing it and it has been extremely well received to date. We start trading at the end of this month and are delighted to be launching it in Geneva.

“The support we had from the Wales Innovators Network was extremely useful and helped us a great deal during the development stage and when applying for patents.”

Wishing all the inventors good luck in Geneva, Lesley Griffiths, Deputy Minister for Science, Innovation and Skills, said she was impressed by the range of innovative products from Welsh inventors and entrepreneurs.

“In the current economic climate it is more important than ever that we help businesses and innovators to develop the new products and processes that Wales will need to be competitive in the future.

“The Wales Innovators Network is part of a package of Business Innovation support available to help businesses and individuals in Wales become more innovative. I am pleased to see that so many have benefited from the expertise and advice that is available.”

As well as exhibiting fourteen Welsh inventions at Geneva, the Assembly Government is also taking a state of the art interactive catalogue of projects it has supported.

The touch-screen information point will provide information on opportunities available in Wales for buyers, sellers, distributors, manufacturing, licenses, collaboration and much more.

Related Links