Brooks & Brooks Performance Centre

That constant stiffness.

The one that never fully goes away.

Chronic inflammation isn’t always obvious. But it changes how your body feels and functions daily.

At a cellular level, it’s a cellular response that doesn’t switch off.
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Red light therapy supports the shift from a pro-inflammatory state to a regulated one by influencing immune cell behaviour and cytokine signalling.

Less noise in the system.
More capacity to recover.

Stop all the Clocks Epigenetic clocks, which count down age-related changes in DNA methylation, are coming up to speed. These are not the only biological clocks, but they appear to be the most promising tools for measuring biological age and vulnerability (1, 2). The first-generation Horvath’s and Hannum’s clocks w...

RUGBY / HOCKEY / NETBALL common injuries and how Medwave therapy can support recovery:

https://youtu.be/EHwtWvxGs0w?si=m9ocSI-UdNWlXA4a

Register & Pay here for Medwave sessions 👉
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Single sessions @ R350 each and pacjages available.

🏮Medwave Contour & Medwave Neuro S100

Adri Brooks Whatsapp 0605197190

Please complete the Intakeform before the session: https://forms.gle/xFiWXiG7N93N41Cx5

MedWave Contour / whole-body NIR and MedWave Neuro S100 are not really competitors. They do different jobs. The MedWave site describes the Neuro-100S as a dual-wavelength 635 nm + 810 nm device intended for both surface and deep tissue treatment, including neurological health and full-body recovery, and it describes pairing PBM with vibration as a way to boost circulation, lymphatic flow, and oxygen delivery. 

The most important caution is that the research base is stronger for localized PBM than for whole-body PBM in sport. A 2025 systematic review found that whole-body PBM may help sleep quality, but did not find clear evidence for better exercise recovery or performance across the small number of available studies. By contrast, reviews of localized PBM report more consistent benefits for muscle recovery, tissue protection, and exercise performance. 

So in practice, from U9 to professionals:
• Contour / whole-body NIR is better used as a systemic recovery and readiness tool.
• Neuro S100 is better used as a targeted tissue and neuro-muscular tool.
• The best use is often Contour for global recovery + Neuro S100 for the athlete’s highest-risk areas. 

Rugby: U9 to professional

Rugby carries the highest collision burden of the three sports. In youth rugby, pooled match injury rates were about 40.2 per 1000 match hours in males and 69.0 per 1000 in females, with concussion rates of 6.2 per 1000 player-hours in males and 33.9 per 1000 in females in the 2023 systematic review. The tackle was the most common injury event, and lower limb injury was common in males while head/neck injury was common in females. 

Concussion matters beyond the brain. Professional rugby players returning in the same season after concussion had a 60% greater risk of time-loss injury than players without concussion, and later work has also linked concussion with shorter time to next injury. 

For U9–U13 rugby, the priority is not “performance enhancement”; it is recovery, soreness control, calming tissue irritation, and helping movement quality while the real protection comes from coaching, contact exposure control, and neuromuscular prep. In this age group, Contour makes more sense when the child is generally fatigued or stiff after training, while Neuro S100 makes more sense for a specific area like a calf, shoulder girdle, neck/trapezius, quad, ankle, or low back. PBM should be viewed as an adjunct, not a substitute for concussion protocols, medical assessment, or load management. 

For U14–U18 rugby, the injury pattern starts to look more like high-performance sport: collision bruising, hamstring/adductor issues, ankle injuries, shoulder trauma, and concussion risk all rise with level of play and age. This is where Neuro S100 becomes more valuable than whole-body NIR for injury-risk management, because the risk is usually concentrated in specific tissues: neck/upper traps for contact tolerance, adductors/hamstrings for sprinting, calves/Achilles, ankle complexes, and shoulder stabilizers. Contour is still useful, but mainly to support systemic recovery and sleep rather than to solve a local weak link. 

For professional rugby, the most defensible use is:
• Contour for global post-match recovery, autonomic downshifting, and possibly sleep support.
• Neuro S100 for targeted areas that drive time-loss injuries or performance drop-off: neck, posterior chain, adductors, hamstrings, calves, shoulders, and impact sites.
• Vibration plate before and after as a circulation and activation adjunct, as MedWave itself positions it, but that should still be treated as supportive rather than proven to reduce injury independently. 

Rugby: simple comparison

Contour / whole-body NIR
Best fit: full-body fatigue, tournament congestion, post-match recovery, sleep support, “heavy body” feeling. Evidence for sport performance is promising but still limited. 

Neuro S100
Best fit: neck after contact, shoulder trauma, quad/hamstring/adductor tightness, calf and Achilles overload, ankle sprain recovery, focal low-back irritation, localized neural tension patterns. Evidence is stronger for targeted PBM than whole-body PBM. 

Field hockey: U9 to professional

Field hockey has a different risk profile. A systematic review found that the lower limbs are the most affected area, with contusions/hematomas, abrasions, and lacerations common, and with both contact and non-contact injuries contributing. Ball and stick contact are major contributors, and protective gear is strongly relevant. 

For U9–U13 field hockey, the most common practical problems are ball/stick knocks, shin bruising, forearm/hand trauma, ankle irritation, and early overload from repeated crouched posture and sprinting. In this group, Neuro S100 is generally the more useful device because the issue is usually local: bruised quad, shin, ankle, hip flexor, lower back, or shoulder. Contour is more of a recovery add-on after tournaments or heavy weeks. 

For teenage and elite hockey, groin, hamstring, calf, lumbar, and ankle overload become more important, alongside contact bruising. Because hockey involves repeated acceleration, low body positions, deceleration, and rotational trunk demand, Neuro S100 has more direct utility for performance continuity: adductors, hamstrings, glutes, calf-Achilles complex, and low back. Contour is helpful when the athlete is carrying full-body fatigue across tournaments or double-session weeks, but current evidence still supports targeted PBM more strongly than whole-body PBM for recovery/performance aims. 

Field hockey: simple comparison

Contour
Better for tournament recovery, global leg heaviness, sleep support, and systemic fatigue. 

Neuro S100
Better for bruises, ankle/calf overload, adductors, hamstrings, low back, and shoulder/upper-back hotspots from stick posture and repeated bent running. 

Netball: U9 to professional

Netball is dominated by landing, cutting, deceleration, and ligament injury, especially at the ankle and knee. The 2021 systematic review reported ankle injuries and ligament sprains/tears as especially common, with ankle injuries around 53.8% and knee injuries around 27.7% in one dataset, and more than half of injuries associated with incorrect landing in another. Moderate injuries made up most cases, and ACL injuries, though less common than ankle sprains, carry high burden. A newer elite UK netball paper also reported the highest time-loss burden from ankle sprains and ACL sprains. 

For U9–U13 netball, the biggest opportunity is not PBM first; it is landing mechanics, calf-ankle strength, trunk control, and progression of jumping load. In that context, Neuro S100 is more sport-specific than Contour because netball injuries are usually local and mechanical: ankle, Achilles, patellar tendon, knee, shin, or lower back. Contour can still help the athlete who is generally sore or overloaded after tournaments, but it is less likely than targeted PBM to address the body area that is actually at risk. 

For teenage and elite netball, the hierarchy is even clearer. If the concern is ankle instability, Achilles tightness, patellar tendon overload, quad tendon soreness, calf heaviness, or post-match knee irritation, Neuro S100 is the better fit. If the concern is repeated-match congestion, sleep, generalized fatigue, and “whole-system” recovery, Contour becomes useful as an added layer. 

Netball: simple comparison

Contour
Better for full-body fatigue, heavy legs, tournament recovery, and sleep support. 

Neuro S100
Better for ankle sprain rehab support, calf-Achilles load, tendon hotspots, patellar region, quads, and localized knee-support work around intense landing and deceleration demands. 

Best age-based rule from U9 to pro

For younger children, use PBM conservatively and mainly for comfort, recovery, and local tissue support, not as a “performance booster.” The bigger protective levers are still coaching, load control, sleep, nutrition, and movement quality. Rugby especially needs formal concussion pathways; PBM does not replace medical management. 

For adolescents, the most valuable role of PBM is helping athletes stay available for training by reducing local tissue irritation and supporting recovery around rapid growth, tournament periods, and asymmetry. In all three sports, the strongest prevention evidence still sits with neuromuscular training, not light therapy alone. In schoolboy rugby, a movement-control warm-up reduced match injury incidence substantially and reduced concussion incidence when done regularly. 

For professionals, the most rational model is:
• Contour for systemic recovery and readiness
• Neuro S100 for the high-risk tissues of that sport
• vibration plate as a supportive priming and circulation adjunct
• and then combine all of that with sport-specific strength, neck work where relevant, landing mechanics, sprint exposure, and return-to-play standards. 

My practical summary

For rugby, the value of Neuro S100 rises sharply with age and level because contact, concussion, neck/shoulder trauma, and posterior-chain load rise. Contour is the recovery layer; Neuro S100 is the risk-area layer. 

For field hockey, the sport has more bruising/contact-to-ball-or-stick plus lower-limb overload. Neuro S100 usually gives the more specific return. Contour is useful around tournaments and accumulated fatigue. 

For netball, because ankle and knee injuries dominate, Neuro S100 is usually the more targeted and valuable tool, while Contour is the supportive recovery platform. 

There are not yet strong head-to-head trials directly comparing MedWave Contour vs Neuro S100 in these sports, so the comparison above is the best evidence-based practical inference rather than a direct device trial conclusion. 

MedWave Smart Talks: Shining Light on Muscoloskeletal System Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

Contact Adri Brooks www.zinzino.com/2011126821 to help you IMPACT change in your children and your own wellbeing.

Wellness is not only the absence of disease, but Physical, Enotional and Spritual wellbeing.

Here’s a clear, clinically grounded explanation you can use for parents, coaches, or practitioner education:

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🧠 CHILDREN: FROM 2% → 10% OMEGA-3 INDEX

+ Role of Viva+ (Affron® saffron extract)

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🧬 1. WHAT A 2% VS 10% OMEGA-3 INDEX REALLY MEANS

🔴 ~2% Omega-3 Index (common in children)

At this level, the child’s physiology typically shows:
• Rigid cell membranes → poor nutrient entry & signalling
• High omega-6 dominance → pro-inflammatory state
• Impaired neurotransmission → reduced focus, mood stability
• Higher neuroinflammation → linked to anxiety, ADHD-like symptoms
• Poor sleep regulation → reduced melatonin support
• Slower recovery (brain + body)

👉 In your language:
This is a “noisy, inflamed communication system”

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🟢 ~8–10% Omega-3 Index (target zone)

After ~90–120 days on Zinzino BalanceOil:
• Fluid cell membranes → optimal receptor function
• Reduced inflammatory signalling (AA/EPA balance)
• Improved brain communication (DHA-rich synapses)
• Better sleep architecture
• Improved emotional regulation & resilience
• Faster recovery + cognitive clarity

👉 This becomes a “quiet, efficient communication system”

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🌿 2. WHERE VIVA+ (AFFRON® SAFFRON) ADDS VALUE

🔬 Key Active: Affron® (standardised saffron extract)

Clinically studied for:
• Mood regulation
• Emotional resilience
• Sleep quality
• Stress reduction

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🧠 3. MECHANISM: HOW VIVA+ WORKS WITH OMEGA-3

🧬 A. Neurotransmitter Support

Affron® helps regulate:
• Serotonin → mood, calmness
• Dopamine → motivation, focus

👉 Omega-3 (DHA) = builds the brain structure
👉 Viva+ = optimises the brain chemistry

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🔥 B. Neuroinflammation Reduction
• Omega-3 → reduces inflammatory eicosanoids
• Saffron → reduces oxidative stress + cortisol signalling

👉 Together:
Lower neuroinflammation → better behaviour + cognition

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😴 C. Sleep + Circadian Rhythm
• Omega-3 → supports melatonin production pathways
• Saffron → improves sleep onset + quality

👉 Result:
• Deeper sleep
• Better GH (growth hormone) release
• Improved recovery + learning consolidation

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⚡ D. Emotional Regulation (VERY IMPORTANT IN CHILDREN)

Children moving from 2% → 10% often show:
• Less irritability
• Reduced anxiety
• Improved attention span
• Better coping under stress

👉 Adding Viva+ accelerates this effect:
• Stabilises mood fluctuations
• Reduces “overreaction” patterns
• Supports calm focus in school + sport

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📊 4. REAL-WORLD CHILD OUTCOMES (TYPICAL WITHIN 30–120 DAYS)

Without Viva+ (Omega-3 only):
• Improved focus
• Better recovery
• Gradual mood stability

With Viva+ + BalanceOil:
• Faster emotional stability
• Noticeable calmness within weeks
• Improved sleep earlier
• Better classroom behaviour
• Enhanced resilience under pressure

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🧬 5. THE COMBINATION EFFECT (YOUR MODEL)

System BalanceOil Viva+ Combined Effect
Cell Membranes Fluidity — Better signalling
Brain Structure DHA — Synapse efficiency
Neurotransmitters Indirect Direct Balanced mood + focus
Inflammation ↓ AA/EPA ↓ oxidative stress Strong anti-inflammatory
Sleep Melatonin support Sleep quality Deep recovery
Behaviour Gradual Faster Stable + calm child

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🔑 KEY MESSAGE FOR PARENTS

👉 BalanceOil fixes the “hardware” (cells, brain structure)
👉 Viva+ optimises the “software” (mood, sleep, behaviour)

Together:
➡️ Better learning
➡️ Better emotional control
➡️ Better recovery + growth
➡️ Lower long-term inflammation risk

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⚠️ IMPORTANT (CLINICAL POSITIONING)
• This is supportive, not medical treatment
• Works best with:
• Whole food diet
• Reduced ultra-processed foods
• Good sleep hygiene
• Effects are dose + consistency dependent

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💡 YOUR HIGH-PERFORMANCE INSIGHT

For your Brooksgym / youth athlete model:
• Omega-3 Index 8–10%
→ improves reaction time, decision-making, injury resilience
• Add Viva+
→ improves composure under pressure + emotional control

👉 This is where talent becomes consistency

Inspire Change in Life | Zinzino Vi återställer balansen över hela världen med testbaserade, vetenskapligt bevisade och personligt anpassade kosttillskott. Påbörja din resa redan idag.

How The Pelvis Influences Forward Head Posture This is a quick video that looks specifically at how poor pelvic positions can create a forward head posture that eventually leads to neck pain, TMJD (jaw pa...