Like to know more? Here are some answers to some key, frequently asked questions:
- How does Activa Concepts work? Just what does the process consist of?
- How long has this Activa process been available?
- Do the changes last?
- Can anyone use the Activa Concepts process?
- Is the Activa process fail-safe? Does it always work?
- How long does a session last?
- How much does an Activa session cost?
- To which sports does the process apply to specifically?
- Won't the Activa process replace conventional practice methods and approaches, and replace traditional trainers and coaches?
- Doesn't this process principally concern competitive and professional athletes?
(If you can not find the answer to your question, please contact us here and we will be glad to help you.)
How does Activa Concepts work? Just what does the process consist of?
The mechanics of the process are quite complicated and involve scientific and medical terms which would appear unnecessarily tedious and of limited interest to the layman.
However, in a nutshell: the process uses a specific brain function which plays a decisive role in the recording and reproduction of automatic motor responses. We use this brain function to access the place from where these automatic responses are governed (the motor cortex). We then activate this area using a relatively simple technological aid (a sound machine emitting highly specific tones, in combination with visual and kinesthetic 'cues'), in order to program or reprogram the reflexes that the athlete and his coach wish to create.
The Activa process achieves the activation of the desired automatic responses through a specific method that uses a simple neurophysiological approach, effective within a very short time-frame. The overriding advantage of this concept is the rapidity with which the automatic responses are modified - normally one session lasting approximately three hours - as opposed to hours, months or even years of traditional practice or training. An enormous amount of time is saved utilizing the Activa Concepts process, in addition to eliminating potential injuries stemming from overuse.
How long has the Activa process been available?
The idea itself was discovered a few years ago by a French neurophysiologist. However, knowledge about the workings of automatic motor reflexes has never been fully explored or developed. Approximately five years ago, the Activa process as it is used presently, was tested experimentally in the sports world with athletes of all levels, in many different domains.
Do the changes last?
Since the concept is based on the way the brain works, we can safely say that from the moment the automatic reflex is activated, there is no obvious mechanical reason that it should disappear. Of course, an automatic movement (however it has been encoded and activated) can be open to a variety of influences. Otherwise, how would we explain the fact that some athletes regularly lose 'control' of certain automatic movements which support good performance, are unable to achieve them in the first place, or 'relocate' them if they have been lost?
The automatic reflexes that we activate with the Activa process are the same as all other automatic reflexes acquired in the normal way. They hold the same qualities and have the same faults. It's only how these are activated, and the length of time they are held on to that change. These reflexes are then combined with others, thus theoretically sensitive to the same attacks and disturbances: physical and psychological trauma, over-reaction to emotion or stress, or, just simply and generally, all that can disturb motor function and movement.
The Activa process does not create a "new race" of automatic motor responses, nor does it impose on the athlete a way of working that goes against nature.
Activa Concepts does not guarantee that the automatic motor responses that are activated are either sound or permanent. As a rule they are like all other movements; however, in reality, it seems that they are more robust than other movements because they are underpinned psychologically. This is not often discussed as it is difficult to make a rigorous assessment of this particular effect. However, if concerns arise in that there is a chance that the automatic reflexes will lose effect in a competitive situation, it simply shows that the movement is in place - yet being inhibited or blocked by an outside agency or effect. This then involves dealing with the athlete's expectations, fears, distractions - the overall mental state - so that the automatic responses can be initiated without distraction from the mind. Regardless, it would preferable to come into a game, match or competition with correct movement patterns, rather than poor ones.
In some cases where certain automatic movements have a tendency to lose their strength with time for the reasons we have just mentioned, Activa Concepts offers an "after sales service" which consists of a process of reinforcement. After all, when a trainer spends months, sometimes years, in trying to help an athlete acquire a correct movement, we don't say that this movement may not 'stick' in certain competitive situations, and therefore working on it is pointless. The only difference between that kind of work and ours (besides the actual process) is the length of time it takes to acquire the movement.
The Activa Concepts process actually reinforces the pathway that has been activated. In this way, the automatic responses that we are activating will be more solid that others. Using this same logic, we can also reduce the effect of emotion and stress on the robustness of the automatic movement and, we know how to maintain and 'nourish' the new movement.
In addition, the heightened emotion and stress experienced by the athlete are usually due to some kind of doubt about their ability to perform the motion or task, fear of losing, or concern about confidence in personal ability. Just knowing that the desired, optimal automatic response is in place and activated produces outstanding results from an emotional standpoint, while suppressing stress down to its roots. So, the Activa process produces certain positive 'side effects' in regards to the solidity of the motor response, even if it is not being attacked head on, and even if we do not have the means to measure these effects. Moreover, the process takes care to preserve the quality and the integrity of the motor response. It is administered simply, in the most traditional way, by reducing what we call the margin of error and by encouraging conditions where the development of the motor response is possible.
Can anyone use the Activa Concepts process?
Yes, for the most part, and with a variety of potential results. We insist upon the fact that we do not force anyone to take on a movement of which they are incapable. And not everyone is capable of making the movements of a champion. On the other hand, everyone is able to make the most of movements within his personal potential, know-how, physical and technical competence, at a given moment. We’ve all heard (or you may have said it yourself): “I know I am capable of doing this movement/making this motion – in fact, I’ve done it many times before. But I’m not doing it, or not very often, and not in all situations.” The Activa process will allow the athlete to carry out the movement more often, and more consistently. The process cannot transform a carthorse into the winner of the Kentucky Derby, but it will allow the individual to be the best carthorse that he can be. And at the same time, the Activa process may be able to help a brilliant horse win that race at Churchill Downs.
Is the Activa process fail-safe? Does it always 'work?'
The procedure actually reinforces the pathway that has been activated. In this way, the automatic response that we are activating will be more solid that others. Using this same logic, we can also reduce the effect of emotion and stress on the robustness of the automatic movement and, finally, we know how to fix the new movement.
As well as this, if we think about it, the heightened emotion and stress experienced by the athlete are usually due to some kind of doubt about their ability to do well, their fear of losing or a worry about confidence in personal ability. Just knowing that the desired automatic response is in place and activated produces outstanding results on the emotion and stress which are suppressed down to their roots. So our procedure produces certain side effects on the solidity of the motor response even if it is not being attacked head on and even if we do not have the means to measure these effects.
Moreover, we are careful about preserving the quality and the integrity of the motor response. We do it simply, in the most traditional way, by reducing what we call the margin of error and by encouraging conditions where the development of the motor response is possible.
How long does a session last?
This depends a lot on the complexity of the movement that needs to be corrected, and the circumstances of the intervention but, on average, three hours are set aside for the process. As outlined in "The Activa Concepts Process from A to Z," it is preferable to have an initial gathering where the motion to be changed can be videotaped and reviewed by athlete, coach and Activa Expert. A follow up meeting is advisable as well, anywhere from one to four weeks after the Activa session.
How much does an Activa session cost?
Each Activa session is different, so we prefer to provide an estimate after having met and made an analysis of the individual's needs. Our conditions of sale are also specific to each case; please contact the Activa Expert in your area for specific pricing. Suffice to say that Activa Concepts has a pricing structure that is flexible and adapted to each case.
To which sports does the process apply to specifically?
In theory, to all! The Activa process can be applied to all sports - yet there are three conditions necessary for its correct application:
- First off, there must be an identifiable motor program or motion which has been technically coded in line with recognized standards.
- Secondly, a qualified, competent and experienced coach must be involved, so as to identify how the athlete's present movement is inefficient or inferior, and what more technically sound, optimal movement needs to adopted
- Finally, the Activa Expert, or coach, needs to be able to film the athlete as he carries out the movement to be modified. Through trial and error, the Activa Experts have found that we can clearly validate the process in sports such as golf and tennis, as well as soccer, baseball, basketball, American football, boxing, fencing, and skiing, among others. The Activa team has also carried out testing with positive results in general motion and movement in cases where the automatic motor responses had been damaged or rendered unworkable through various traumas, whilst the motor system itself returned to perfect working order. Regardless of your sport or activity, if you have questions about whether the Activa process can be useful or effective in changing your motion, please contact us here.
For some practical examples of various athletes, please visit our "Case Studies" section here.
Won’t the Activa process replace conventional practice methods and approaches, and replace traditional trainers and coaches?
No. Our field of intervention is very clearly complementary to the traditional methods of training - especially when it proves to be ineffective or when things are just not working.
Happily, in the vast majority of cases, the automatic responses that govern athletic movement are acquired easily through regular training. But it is often the case that the activation or reactivation of these automatic responses will be resistant to all known approaches. In such an instance, rather than making the athlete repeat a movement that he is clearly finding difficult to acquire, it would be more effective from a time and effort standpoint to employ the Activa process.
Ironically, without the trainers, coaches and instructors, Activa would have no place! Above all, the process demands that both the bad/suboptimal, and the good/more optimal movements be analyzed and diagnosed. And only an expert or professional can do this. The individual on his own is ill-equipped to carry this out with the necessary precision and accuracy, apart from a few, highly technically knowledgeable professional athletes (and again, we insist that as much as possible, the coach be involved in the process). The Activa Expert has neither the right nor the competency to diagnose a 'good' or 'bad' movement, hence his role is quite clear in the process.
In addition, confining the trainer or coach to the rudimentary role of helping with the recording of motor reflexes, that is to get them to control the repetition of the movement, is very disempowering. As professionals ourselves, we understand that the role of the coach is much more important. However, they cannot always carry out all the facets of their assignment because they hit up against the laborious, long and inevitable process of motor learning. In fact, the Activa process actually helps to allow trainers and coaches to assist their athletes in other areas, supremely important to performance: physical, strategic, mental, and technical. And technical progress, which involves study, definition, and research of new movements or perfecting of existing movements, remains the domain of the trainer and the coach. This is critical to keep in mind.
Also, trainers and coaches are quickly going to understand how they can benefit from the Activa process. There is a group of recreational athletes, notably amateurs and "leisure players," who would never approach a trainer or coach because they are afraid to, intimidated, or who simply think that taking lessons or training will cost them a large amount of time and money - all for the purposes of acquiring automatic movements (in tedious ways), and with a very low success rate. This group often believes that the return on their investment is too low. However, with the Activa process, this group of part-time amateur athletes will turn towards the coaches and trainers with access to Activa Experts, knowing that they can save enormous amounts of time and toil to reach a level that will allow them to enjoy their chosen endeavor.
Doesn't this process principally concern competitive and professional athletes?
The brain, and specifically the part that governs automatic movements (the motor cortex), is unaware of competitive or professional sports. All it knows is movement. The mechanics that are called upon to perform the automatic movement of an Olympic champion are, for the brain, exactly the same as that which will be activated in the motions of the Sunday athlete. Rest assured that everyone, whatever his level of athletic competency and quality of his movements, will benefit from the Activa process method. It will just apply to different elements: for the champion, it will allow fine tuning which will give him a few extra points, meters, or seconds which may separate him from competitors; for the leisure athlete, it will resolve basic faults, add consistency, and make the activity more enjoyable in a general nature.