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BlazePods
The Ultimate Training Tool for Reflexes, Strength, and Cognitive Performance
What Are BlazePods?
BlazePods are an innovative, interactive training system that uses light-based reaction training to enhance physical and cognitive performance. These small, durable pods light up in customizable patterns and can be used in a variety of workouts to improve speed, agility, coordination, and mental sharpness. Controlled via a smartphone app, BlazePods offer endless training possibilities for athletes, fitness enthusiasts, rehabilitation professionals, and even seniors looking to stay active and mentally engaged.
Adding cognitive demands to physical therapy interventions—especially targeting inhibition—can enhance both brain and movement outcomes in older adults.
This approach may be essential to reduce fall risk, maintain independence, and promote healthy aging.
What Are BlazePods Good For?
BlazePods take traditional training to the next level by engaging both body and mind simultaneously.
They help improve:
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Reaction time
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Coordination
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Agility
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Cognitive processing
Why We Use Blazepods
At Muscle IQ Physical Therapy in Orem, we are committed to helping older adults regain confidence and independence through cutting-edge balance rehabilitation. Our evidence-based approach incorporates innovative tools like BlazePods, interactive light-based devices designed to enhance balance, coordination, and reaction time—key factors in preventing falls and improving mobility. Backed by research, such as the Balance Sensory Retention Test (BSRT) study, which demonstrates strong reliability and validity in assessing balance in adults aged 65–80, our programs are tailored to meet your unique needs. Whether you’re looking to reduce fall risk or improve functional mobility, our engaging and dynamic exercises make rehabilitation effective and enjoyable.
Our therapists use BlazePods to create fun, gamified exercises that challenge your balance and proprioception while keeping you motivated. These activities, inspired by validated tests like the BSRT, involve quick stepping or reaching responses to colorful light cues, helping strengthen the protective mechanisms that keep you steady. The BSRT study showed strong correlations with functional mobility (Timed Up and Go test) and moderate links to reduced fear of falling, proving the value of such targeted interventions. At [Your Clinic Name], we ensure every session is personalized, safe, and supervised to maximize your progress, whether you’re recovering from an injury or aiming to stay active and independent.
Choosing Muscle IQ means choosing a rehabilitation partner dedicated to your well-being. Our state-of-the-art tools, combined with our expertise in balance training, make us the ideal choice for older adults seeking to enhance their quality of life. The BSRT study highlights the simplicity and effectiveness of balance-focused interventions, and our use of BlazePods brings this science to life in an accessible, motivating way. Contact us today to start your journey toward better balance, greater confidence, and a safer, more active future!
Study: Reproducibility and convergent validity of the blazepod stepping reaction test in older people
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0966636225001055?via%3Dihub
🎯 Study Objective
To examine whether a dual-task (DT) training program—combining physical activity with executive function challenges—can improve:
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Inhibitory control (a key aspect of executive function)
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Gait performance (particularly under dual-task conditions)
in older adults, compared to standard physical training.
🧠 Key Findings: Executive Function
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Inhibitory control declined in the control group (standard physical training).
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Inhibitory control improved in the DT group (physical + cognitive tasks).
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Working memory was not affected by either intervention.
Clinical Relevance:
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Inhibition is essential for safe mobility and real-world decision-making.
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Dual-task exercises may help slow or reverse age-related cognitive decline.
🚶♂️ Key Findings: Gait Performance
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Temporal gait variability (stride time & gait speed CV) improved in both groups—but only on flat walking tasks, not during more complex tasks like hurdle negotiation.
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No changes in dual-task cost (DTE) metrics, possibly due to high individual variability or short training duration.
Clinical Relevance:
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DT training improves rhythmic, automatic gait patterns.
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More complex tasks (e.g., walking over obstacles) may require longer or more intense training to show improvement.
🔗 Mind-Body Connection
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In the DT group, improvements in inhibition were significantly correlated with reductions in gait variability during complex dual-task walking.
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In the control group, inhibition declined, and this was linked to worsened gait under simpler dual-task conditions.
Clinical Relevance:
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Gait and cognition are tightly linked in older adults.
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Better inhibition may reduce fall risk by improving motor control during cognitively demanding tasks.
🧩 Implications for PT Practice
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Dual-task training adds value beyond physical exercise alone.
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Tailored interventions combining executive function challenges with movement (e.g., obstacle walking, cue-based exercises) can:
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Improve gait regularity
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Support cognitive health
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Better prepare older adults for real-world multitasking (e.g., walking while talking, navigating busy environments)
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✅ Takeaway Message
Adding cognitive demands to physical therapy interventions—especially targeting inhibition—can enhance both brain and movement outcomes in older adults.
This approach may be essential to reduce fall risk, maintain independence, and promote healthy aging.