CBBR and RT Knits revolutionize compression apparel for Olympic athletes in Mauritius

The University of Mauritius’s Centre for Biomedicine and Biomaterials Research (CBBR) has partnered with RT Knits, a Mauritian textile industry player, to create unique compression garments in Mauritius through research and innovation in the sports sector. Machine Learning This is at the heart of a custom-made garment designed for Mauritian athletes competing in the Paris Olympic Games (OG). It improves their recovery after intense physical exertion during training and competition, and allows them to push their limits safely and effectively. Beyond sports performance, CBBR hopes to further leverage AI and technology to improve public health.

At RT Knits, innovation is at the core of its DNA and it brings with it a lot of investment. Since 2020, the company’s R&D team has been actively working on projects that combine technical textiles with everyday applications. According to its director Kendall Tang, the fabric of this compression garment was specially developed and produced by the company. “Our main goal was to ensure optimal recovery while maintaining consistent compression levels with each use, without compromising durability. To do this, we selected specialized yarns and optimized the knit structure to maximize stretch and recovery properties. We also used scanning electron microscopy to examine damage after mechanical stretching.he explained.

In addition, RT Knits also adopts more environmentally friendly materials, including recycled fibers. The design process starts with the careful selection of fabrics to ensure 100% optimal recovery. The performance of the fabrics is enhanced by adding antibacterial and moisture-wicking finishes, aiming to improve the comfort of athletes. “These additional finishes have been integrated to enhance athlete comfort. Moisture management treatments are now essential for all sports apparel, absorbing perspiration and promoting faster drying of the garment. To combat unpleasant odors caused by bacterial growth, we add special, long-lasting antimicrobial treatments.”, Kendall Tang explained.

RT Knits has invested in a variety of equipment to provide further evidence to support the hypothesis that recovery after exercise depends on the ability of muscle cells to eliminate lactic acid through adequate blood flow. “Our experiments show that the classic finger-prick measurement of blood lactate does not accurately reflect the processes taking place in muscle cells, which produce lactate as a result of insufficient oxygen supply during exercise. Lactate production is a key factor in muscle fatigue.”, emphasizes Kendall Tang. In order to reduce the impact on the environment, the company abandoned the traditional dyeing process and switched to materials that are dyed with pigments during the extrusion process. This innovative method not only saves water, chemicals and energy, but also ensures that the fabric is 100% recycled while minimizing the environmental footprint.

Artificial Intelligence for Pushing Boundaries

CBBR Director Archana Luximon-Bhaw explained that the compression garment was launched in 2020 as part of a research protocol following the development of a reusable antiviral and antibacterial nanofiltration membrane by her team in the context of pandemic preparedness. “Careful observation is often the source of new concepts”she stressed. This is how compression garments were developed, based on extensive observations of the evolution of Mauritian society. She added that CBBR used its expertise in the biomedical and materials fields to demonstrate the clinical benefits of wearing such garments and identify the parameters that influence their effectiveness.

During this creative process, a meeting with Professor Deji Akinwande of the University of Texas in 2022 provided new directions for thinking. “In R&D, we start with a hypothesis and then generate data to validate it. With the advent of AI, we can push the limits even further”she said. In fact, CBBR and RT Knits teams worked together to use machine learning techniques to model various parameters such as body mass index, fabric stretch, pressure and comfort based on the data collected. “We also analysed existing scientific data to develop our own hypothesis and research protocol. The compression garments had to be used multiple times, and the fabrics had been mechanically tested to assess their durability under stress-stretch cycles.specifies the header of CBBR.

Rigorously tested by athletes

According to Archana Luximon-Bhaw, recovery after exercise can be measured by blood lactate levels. However, this method is not very accurate and does not accurately reflect the actual biochemistry occurring in the muscle microenvironment. “We found that lactate elimination is correlated with ion transport in cells and used this data to understand the effects of compression garments on recovery after intense exercise. We also devised a method to select the optimal size of compression garments by correlating applied pressure with physical parameters of the body. Most importantly, we have eliminated invasive methods of measuring muscle fatigue.she noted. During the design process, areas of the body that needed compression were identified and the compression level was optimized accordingly. Rigorous testing with athletes confirmed the effectiveness of the product, and the results are conclusive.

As the Olympics get underway and Mauritian athletes use compression gear, the CBBR chief confirms we are only “It is the beginning of a paradigm shift for Mauritian athletes. We are still at the first step in such partnerships in Mauritius and we must continue our efforts to have a positive impact on our high performance sports ecosystem.She noted that many countries have professional Olympic training centres with a strong foundation in sports science, with research and innovation at the core of their activities.

She said the centers identify and implement new, creative ways to support athletes, patients and the public. Archana Luximon-Bhaw cited the following examplesAmerican Performance Centeran organization that conducts research to understand how different physical activities and training regimens affect the human body. “They provide information to optimize performance, prevent injury and improve the recovery process. They deliver technology by conducting research in collaboration with world-class healthcare partners. They even use genomic medicine to create products and services to improve the health of high-performance athletes and, ultimately, the health of the general public.”she added.

Sports and medicine

Compression wearable technology is mainly used in two interrelated fields: sports and medicine. The basic principle is said to be to apply appropriate mechanical pressure to support and stabilize muscles in strategic anatomical locations. In the medical field, it is used to treat hypertrophic scars, deep vein thrombosis, chronic venous disease, post-burn injuries and provide orthopedic support. This field has reached a high level of sophistication, with great attention to detail in the materials used.

Early applications of compression technology in sports primarily involved trained athletes to promote recovery and enhance performance. Several studies conducted after endurance exercise and long-duration running have shown a reduction in muscle damage markers in the blood and an improved sense of recovery or restoration. Compression tights work by increasing venous return, reducing swelling, and stabilizing muscles during exercise, thereby reducing mechanical trauma to musculoskeletal cells. Research in this area varies by sport type.

Challenges

“The main scientific challenge was to identify strategic anatomical locations to measure the mechanical stress applied by the compression gear. This was followed by finding a non-invasive technique to directly measure markers of exercise-induced muscle damage and circumvent the invasive methods of blood lactate monitoring.”, explains the CBBR director. She adds that the main technical challenge is designing a custom pressure suit with specific materials to achieve the right pressure gradient to ensure adequate blood flow. “Given that compression garments are prohibited in some sports, we refocused our research on the recovery phase. Athletes often use various techniques to reduce recovery time between training and competition, such as heat treatment and massage, which require athletes to remain stationary. Compression garments, on the other hand, can be worn continuously to prolong the benefits of compression and speed recovery.”

Now that this compression garment has been realized, CBBR and RT Knits aim to develop more AI and technology-based solutions that will not only support high-level athletes, but also maintain public health through regular physical activity, and benefit from active communication between sportswear and mobile devices via a smartwatch or phone.