Press Release

23rd October 2008

 

New deal for optima-life set to assist in the management of stress, obesity and diabetes in the UK

An exclusive new agreement has been signed by optima-life¹, the UK based health and sports performance company, with Firstbeat Technologies², Finland's leading software specialists in the personalised healthcare market. The deal will see the introduction to the UK of a new, technology based approach that will assist in the prevention and management of health issues such as stress, obesity and diabetes.

The state of the art software, now being marketed by optima-life, provides real time personalised data on an individual's levels of stress, exercise, sleep and recovery.

The award winning Finnish company originally developed the software for use in sport and it is currently used by a number of Olympic teams and in Formula 1 racing. However, Simon Shepard,³ Chief Executive of optima-life quickly recognised the health potential of the Finnish technology. He said:

'The Firstbeat Technologies' software was designed to look at fatigue and overtraining in athletes but over the past six years, researchers have taken the principles for sport and applied them in a meaningful way to everyday life.

'If we are under constant stress, be it sport or daily life, the body does not have a chance to recover. The result is poor performance and possible burn-out which can lead to a number of different lifestyle diseases such as stress, Type II Diabetes, obesity and  coronary heart disease. These conditions are rapidly becoming the curse of the 21st century both in personal health terms and as a financial burden to the economy.

'Recent government initiatives and, indeed The Darzi Report⁴, recommend the use of personalised intervention strategies in promoting positive changes in lifestyle. Using Firstbeat software we can now actually provide PCTs, Occupational Health teams, companies and health and wellbeing practitioners, with the tools to show how recovery is key to optimising performance, promoting wellness and ultimately creating a happy and healthy lifestyle.'

The product is simple to use and the data produced is both meaningful for practitioners and individuals alike. Tim Wright⁵, Sales Director for optima-life's Health Division explains:

'The Firsbeat technology produces highly sophisticated, personalised data derived from the activity of the heart. Data is collected over a 48 -72 hour period using a heart rate monitor. At the push of a button data can be quickly translated into easily readable and highly motivational reports indicating levels of stress, exercise and recovery within an individual's daily life.

'The data on recovery is the missing link in looking at lifestyle and performance. Up until now indicators of stress have relied on a degree of medical input and a large degree of subjectivity. Now practitioners and individuals can see the data for themselves and intervention and management strategies can be put in place to create a proactive approach to wellbeing and a healthy lifestyle.'

The agreement between optima-life and Firstbeat Technologies, a spin out company from the KIHU Olympic Institute and the University of Jyväskkylä, marks the start of a significant journey for both companies. Chief Exec Joni Kettunen⁶ said:

'Trust and understanding, as well as great technology have been key components in our relationship to date with professionals like the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health and McLaren Racing. The optima-life team have the knowledge, understanding and integrity to take our range of products forward and we are delighted to have created such a unique partnership.'

END

Notes

¹ About optima-life www.optima-life.com/aboutus.html↑
² Firstbeat technologies www.firstbeatechnologies.com↑
³ Simon Shepard http://www.optima-life.com/optimabiographies.html↑
⁴ Darzi Report: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/publicationsandstatistics/...↑
⁵ Tim Wright http://www.optima-life.com/optimabiographies.html↑
⁶ Joni Kettunen http://www.optima-life.com/firstbeatbiographies.html↑