The Science & Research

ABSTRACT: Anxiety chronically affects 49.9% of all US adults aged 18-24, 32.3% of all US adults, and an estimated 4% of the global population currently experience an anxiety disorder. Nonpharmacologic, behavioral therapies are useful yet underutilized. Treatment with antidepressants and anxiolytics are the most common pharmacotherapy for anxiety disorders, with variable effectiveness, significant side-effect burden [including being implicated with suicide] and high misuse liability.  Identifying alternative treatments, including non-invasive and non-pharmacologic options that are safe, efficacious, and have reduced or  limited side effect profiles would be preferred over conventional therapies targeting anxiety-related symptoms. 

Ongoing research suggests that brain patterns can be altered in response to various haptic stimuli. A novel patch that delivers haptic vibrotactile trigger technology (VTT) was designed and theorized to target various neural pathways to influence brain centers. The technology is over-the-counter, non-invasive, non-pharmacological and applied topically. 

The purpose of this IRB-approved, blinded, minimal-risk observational study was to evaluate and compare patients’ experiences, perceptions and response for those who received a haptic vibrotactile trigger technology (VTT) embedded stress and anxiety-relieving patch (PEACE Patch with VTT; Super Patch Company, Srysty Holding Co, Toronto, Canada) with those who received a control patch without the embedded technology.

ABSTRACT: Sleep issues are widely prevalent throughout the US and can greatly impact a person’s quality of life while imparting a significant personal and societal burden. Evidence supports the importance of sleep health to overall physical health, behavioral health, wellness, and safety. Several diseases have been identified as having a significant association with sleep disorders and sleep duration, including depression, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and cardiovascular events. Conventional pharmacological treatments for sleep disorders have been associated with dangerous adverse effects. Identifying effective and safe alternative treatment strategies, including those that are non-invasive and non-pharmacologic and that have reduced and limited side effect profiles, will provide options that may be preferable in how clinicians traditionally treat sleep disorders. 

There has been research focusing on neuronal pathways and circuits that have been shown to respond to sensory (nociceptive) stimulation. Researchers have shown that these pathways and specific areas of the brain can change in response to external stimuli. Haptic vibrotactile trigger technology (VTT) is designed to target the nociceptive pathways and theorized to disrupt these brain centers. The technology has been incorporated into non-invasive, non-pharmacological topical patches and other routes of delivery. 

The purpose of this IRB-approved, minimal risk observational study was to evaluate patients’ experiences and/or perceptions and patient response for those who received a haptic vibrotactile trigger technology (VTT) embedded non-pharmacologic, non-invasive, over-the-counter sleep patch (REM Sleep Patch with VTT; Super Patch Company, Srysty Holding Co, Toronto, Canada).

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Posture and balance are predominantly controlled by intricate mechanisms fluctuating between sensory and motor modules located in the spinal cord, brain stem and cerebellum. They rely upon the ongoing cycle of synchronization of the sensory system (i.e., vestibular, visual, somatosensory), the cognitive system (central nervous system), and musculoskeletal system. As we age, physiological changes occur in each one of the sensory systems resulting in an increased risk of falling primarily due to the difficulties of maintaining postural control and balance. 

Peripheral and central nervous system (PNS/CNS) communications are crucial in determining sensory input and motor output in response to various external and internal stimuli. Understanding the neuronal pathways and networks associated in balance control is crucial in neuropathology and how they are influenced by and respond to external stimuli. 

There have been several therapeutic approaches identified and shown to be effective to assist with improving balance and stability in addition to possibly preventing, delaying, and reversing frailty. Some of these approaches may not be a realistic option as they require a high level of mobility. Alternative strategies, including new technologies focusing on improving balance and stability may provide promise for those with decreased or limited mobility. 

The neuromuscular system along with the neural pathways are constantly engaged as the body must continuously adjust to ongoing environmental stimuli for successful movement and fall prevention. Synchronization of the visual, vestibular, and tactile senses should be working together with the neuromuscular system in order to control body alignment and to promote the proper motor output. 

Haptic vibrotactile trigger technology (VTT) targets the neural pathways and was designed and developed to assist with improving balance, stability, pain, sleep, and other areas of health and wellness. The technology has been incorporated into apparel and other non-invasive routes of delivery such as non-pharmacological patches, braces, wrist bands, and compression sleeves. 

The purpose of this minimal risk study was to explore the effects of haptic vibrotactile trigger technology (VTT) enhanced socks and its effect on balance and stability with those patients that wore regular cloth socks that were not embedded with the technology.

ABSTRACT: The prevalence of pain and pain-related diseases are so vast that they are the leading causes of disability and disease burden across the globe. Over 100 million people are estimated to live with chronic or recurrent pain in the United States and it is the most common reason patients consult primary care clinicians. Conventional pharmacological treatments for pain have been associated with dangerous adverse effects. Identifying effective, alternative treatment strategies, including those that are non-invasive and non-pharmacologic and that have reduced and limited side effect profiles, will provide options that may be preferable in how clinicians traditionally treat pain.  Understanding the pain neuromatrix may assist in identifying these alternative approaches that reduce pain severity and interference, and that improve patient outcomes. 

The neuromatrix of pain is a network of neuronal pathways and circuits responding to sensory (nociceptive) stimulation. Researchers have shown that these pathways and areas of the brain that are associated with the neuromatrix can change in response to external stimuli. Haptic vibrotactile trigger technology (VTT) is designed to target the nociceptive pathways and theorized to disrupt the neuromatrix of pain. The technology has been incorporated into non-invasive, non-pharmacological topical patches and other routes of delivery. 

The purpose of this IRB-approved, minimal risk study was to evaluate patients’ experiences and/or perceptions and patient response for those who received a haptic vibrotactile trigger technology (VTT) embedded non-pharmacologic, non-invasive, over-the-counter pain patch (FREEDOM Super Patch with VTT; Srysty Holding Co, Toronto, Canada).

Purpose: Despite total knee arthroplasty demonstrating high levels of success, 20% of patients report dissatisfaction with their result. 

Wellness Stasis Socks are embedded with a proprietary pattern of neuro-receptor activation points that have been proven to activate a precise neuro-response, as according to the pattern theory of haptic perception, which stimulates improvements in pain and function. 

Technologies that manipulate this sensory environment, such as textured insoles, have proven to be effective in improving gait patterns in patients with knee osteoarthritis. In regard to patients undergoing TKA using this new technology may prove beneficial as an adjunct to recovery as many patients suffer from further deficits to their proprioceptive system caused by ligamentous damage and alterations to mechanoreceptors during procedure.We hypothesized that the Wellness Stasis Socks are a safe, cost-effective and easily scalable strategy to support TKA patients through their recovery. 

ABSTRACT: Background: Globally, pain and pain-related diseases are the leading causes of disability and disease burden. In the United States, pain is the most common reason patients consult primary care providers. An estimated 100 million people live with chronic or recurrent pain. Existing pharmacological treatments for pain include anti-inflammatory agents, opioids, and other oral and topical analgesics. Many of these have been associated with troublesome and potentially harmful adverse effects. Understanding the complex pain neuromatrix may help in identifying alternative, non-invasive strategies and treatment approaches to address pain severity, interference, and improve patient outcomes. 

The neuromatrix of pain is a network of neuronal pathways and circuits responding to sensory (nociceptive) stimulation. Research has suggested that the output patterns of the body-self neuromatrix are responsible for causing or triggering perceptual, homeostatic, and behavioral programs following traumatic injury, other pathology, or chronic stress. As such, pain can be considered a product of the output of a widely distributed neural network within the brain instead of a sequential result of sensory inputs triggered by injury, inflammation, or other pathology. For over a century, the Brodmann Areas remain the most widely known and frequently cited cytoarchitectural organization of the human cortex. Certain Brodmann areas of the brain have been associated with the current understanding of the neuromatrix of pain. The areas expands well beyond the thalamus and anterior cingulate, and primary (S1) and secondary (S2) somatosensory cortices to include the midbrain region of the periaqueductal gray (PAG) and the lenticular complex as well as the insula, orbitofrontal (Brodmann's area [BA] 11, 47), prefrontal (BA 9, 10, 44-46), motor (BA 6, Supplementary motor area, and M1), inferior parietal (BA 39, 40), and anterior cingulate (BA 24, 25) cortices (ACCs). Treatments that are non-invasive and non-pharmacological and target both central and peripheral nociceptive mechanisms that are identified as having an impact on the Brodmann areas associated with the neuromatrix of pain may potentially be considered a beneficial pain management option for patients. 

Haptic vibrotactile trigger technology targets the nociceptive pathways and is theorized to disrupt the neuromatrix of pain. The technology has been incorporated into non-pharmacological patches and other non-invasive routes of delivery such as apparel (socks), braces, wristbands, and compression sleeves. 

The purpose of this minimal risk study was to compare electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns in areas of the brain that have been associated with the neuromatrix for pain in subjects wearing socks that were embedded with haptic vibrotactile trigger technology with those patients that wore socks that were not embedded with the technology.

ABSTRACT: Voxx Performance Socks are theorized to positively affect sports performance by their proprietary technology that they embed in their products. The technology  is purported to activate dermatomes that have a direct connect to the mid-brain and therefore ‘green-light’, or turn on portions of the mid-brain that would increase nervous system sensitivity thus affecting, strength, balance, and via a different pathway, respiratory efficiency. 

INTRODUCTION: Painful diabetic neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes and can affect many aspects of life and severely limit patients' daily functions. This condition can be difficult to treat, which frustrates both providers and patients.  

Neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes, affecting up to 50% of patients. A consensus statement produced by an international meeting on the diagnosis and management of diabetic neuropathy defined it as “the presence of symptoms and/or signs of peripheral nerve dysfunction in people with diabetes after the exclusion of other causes.” There are many types of neuropathy with a variety of clinical presentations. This study focuses on one phenotype of neuropathy: painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN), specifically in the feet of the subjects. Recently, hosiery developed by Voxx Sports Inc. with dermatome and superficial nervous stimulation technology claim to reduce PDN pain in the feet of subjects.  This study tested the hypothesis that wearing these Dermatome Neuropoint Socks (DNS) reduces PDN in the feet of users.