Athos technology helps NFL prospects correct, optimize their workout

Curt Sandoval Image
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Athos technology helps NFL prospects correct, optimize their workouts
Athos technology, which claims to use biosignals from a person's body to correct and optimize their workout through its new workout gear, is helping NFL prospects turn their weaknesses into strengths just in time for the NFL Scouting Combine and NFL draft.

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. (KABC) -- Speed, strength and agility is the foundation for any NFL athlete but what you don't see is the high-technology compression shorts that the players wear when training.

Smart fitness-wear brand Athos measures muscle performance and heart rate. Athos gear has sensors in the clothing that communicate with your smartphone to tell you if you're working out correctly. The technology will correct a person's workout form in real-time.

"There are these sensors that are actually built directly into the clothing that can read your muscle effort and activity, so it uses a science called electromyography or EMG which basically means we can see the electrical signals your muscles produce," said Jake Waxenberg, a marketing executive at Athos.

USC's Su'a Cravens doesn't just have his output measured on a machine but the sensors in his shorts send a wireless real-time signal to a mobile device.

"I learned I'm not really using my glutes like I should be. That can cause injuries if you don't use all the muscles that you should be in certain workouts, so it really helps us with figuring out what we need to work on," Cravens said.

Proactive Sports Performance in Westlake Village is coaching about a dozen college stars for next month's NFL Scouting Combine.

UCLA's Jordan Payton is convinced this high technology has already helped him.

"It helps me show, you know with my glutes firing, what areas I'm efficient and deficient in so it's pretty advanced now. It's cool to see, it's cool to have here. I know it's one of the only spots in the world that has it," Payton said.

The science and technology that has changed cellphones, computers and TV's is clearly changing sports performance.

"Anything that we can do to help us we're going to do. I'm a huge fan of these already, and I've only been using them for two weeks. I'm definitely going to try to get them back at Stanford for those other guys," Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan said.

But not if the Bruins or Trojans do it first.

ABC News contributed to this report