Brain Training
For most people the term “brain training” is often synonymous with smartphone apps and games that are supposed to help improve your memory or sharpen your mind.
At Align for Performance in Ottawa, however, brain training is far more than a simple game. For us, it’s a
science-based approach based on a cutting-edge training system known as Z-Health created by Dr. Eric Cobb. This unique system offers a precise set of assessment and reassessments based on functional neurology for rehabilitation, and uses custom training drills designed to bridge the gap between biomechanics and neuroscience. Z-Health techniques can help elite athletes perform at a higher level, as well as helping individuals suffering from traumatic brain injuries or other neurological issues.
Our brain training system is specifically designed to help improve or heal in terms of:
Chronic pain issues
Nerve pain and damage
Muscle atrophy
Breathing disorders
Head and neck soreness
General movement & mobility
How Does Our Brain Training Work?
Connects all of the parts of your body together
Picture your nervous system: a vast connection of nerve cells and fibres that connects all of the parts of your body together. This unique system is able to take in, process and respond to incredible amounts of information at lightning fast speeds.
Your nervous system is constantly learning and adapting
Recent research, however, has found that your nervous system is also constantly learning and adapting to your surroundings. That means that by focusing primarily on the nervous system you can improve your body’s performance at virtually any age and in any physical condition.
Tap into your nervous system's ability to learn
With all that in mind, the goal with Z-Health brain training is to tap into your nervous system’s ability to learn and use that innate ability make minute changes that can improve performance in the body – even in the case of traumatic brain injuries.
Rapidly "debug" the system by correcting errors in your nervous system
If we think of your nervous system as a kind of high-powered supercomputer, the idea is to rapidly “debug” the system by correcting errors in how your nervous system processes information and responds. We do this by focusing primarily on movement.
Movement is the fastest way to communicate with the nervous system
That’s because movement is the fastest way to communicate with the nervous system. Movement tells your body where it is in space, how fast it's moving, which movements are safe and which ones cause extreme pain. By re-training or “waking up” nerve endings through repeated movement drills and exercises, we can help your body remove pain and perform at your true genetic potential.
These types of Z-Health brain training
exercises and drills include:
Movement Neurology
Biomechanics and Kinesiology
Sports Vision Training
Vestibular Rehabilitation
Motor Learning
Respiratory Rehabilitation and Training
Sports Coaching
Modern Strength Training
Behaviour Modification
Basic Joint Mobility
What to Expect On Your First Visit
When a lot of new clients visit us for brain training, they expect to see a wide range of high tech gadgets and machinery. The truth is it's a lot simpler than that. On your first visit, we often start simply by getting you to walk and then observing your movements. That's because this is the easiest and most effective way for us to better understand some of the issues that may be impacting you neurologically.
A first visit also typically involves:
Gait analysis
Eye testing
Inner ear testing
Strength assessment
Functional movement patterns
This initial analysis of your movements, health and neurological system will give us the information we need to create a custom-made plan with the drills and training you brain needs to work at peak efficiency.
The result is improved athletic performance, pain relief and enhanced mobility.