Patch below elbow, ring on index finger: Badminton star HS Prannoy straps on science to enhance performance

Prannoy, the Viktor Axelsen slayer, would start using the Ultrahuman M1, a patch below his elbow on his left arm that continuously monitors glucose and gives real-time food insights straight to the phone to understand what certain foods are doing to his body. It helped him narrow down foods that give him a stable response and leave out those that bothered him.

“After going through his data, he recognized a pattern. He understood that certain foods were also not helping his gut and that his training tended to be less intense than he would like. His recovery was also affected by those foods, with longer durations of fatigue during consecutive training sessions or matches,” Ultrahuman wrote on their website.

Prannoy is quoted on the website as acknowledging that ‘nutrition has always been a factor that’s held me from performing at my 100%.’ “By cutting out the foods that don’t work for my glucose levels,” he added, “my performances have been on an upswing. I am now playing with better energy levels, more focus and higher intensity than before. Thanks to Ultrahuman M1, my nutrition has improved and so have my results.”

Additionally, Prannoy has been using the Ultrahuman Ring AIR to aid in his workouts, training and recovery. This is a band, clasped on his left index finger, often seen when he holds the shuttle while he sends serves from the backhand.

“As a professional athlete, he knows that the margins for improvement are often razor-thin. By utilizing the Ultrahuman Ring AIR’s Movement Index, Prannoy diligently tracks his training, gaining invaluable insights into his overall movement patterns. This score has become an essential tool in optimising his workouts, enhancing his performance, and expediting his recovery,” Hisham Syed, who leads marketing at Ultrahuman, told The Indian Express.

The ring also helps Prannoy delve into the realm of sleep, leveraging its advanced sleep algorithms to gain a deeper understanding of his rest and recuperation patterns.

“The Sleep Index provides a comprehensive breakdown of his sleep stages, including crucial data on deep sleep, REM sleep, light sleep, and wakefulness,” Syed added.

With these insights, he can fine-tune his sleep habits, ensuring that his body undergoes the necessary processes for growth, repair, and rejuvenation.

Recovery is the magic word in sports, and badminton with its back-to-back matches poses stiff challenges. “For athletes like Prannoy, who have a very hectic schedule – recovering well can mean exponential gains in tournament performance,” Syed said.

By automatically detecting short naps, the Ring offers Prannoy an opportunity to optimise his rest during the day.

Syed said: “He can choose when he needs to go hard in his training or when he should focus on his recuperation. These naps contribute to his Sleep Index and Recovery Score, which provides essential insights derived from key metrics such as Heart Rate Variability (HRV), Heart Rate, and Skin Temperature. These metrics allow him to gain an understanding of his body’s signals throughout the day, facilitating better decision-making and helping him stay at the top of his game.”

Tiny details add up to the whole picture of resurgence these last two seasons for Prannoy who has searched for solutions to problems so he can put his best foot forward. The brand new World Championships medallist is making his own luck this way.