The secret of sleep: putting a pad on your neck?

WE’VE written a lot about how important sleep is to training and recovery over the last few weeks. Now a California-based company has produced a ’neurostimulation device’ which it says will get a user off to sleep and aid a restful night.

The Thync Relax Pro consists of an electrode pad which is placed on the back of the neck. An app, compatible with iPhone or Android, can then be used to choose either the 'deep relax' or 'deep sleep' modes, which changes the electrical patterns emitted.

Los Gatos-based Thync says the product reduces stress by electrically motivating the 'reticular activating system'. It is similar to the TENS machines many pregnant women use, although it operates at a lower (and the company says more effective) electrical frequency.

Los Gatos based Thync says the product reduces stress by electrically motivating the reticular activating system.

It is similar to the TENS machines that many pregnant women use, although it operates at a lower electrical frequency.

The product costs $129 up front, with an additional $29 per month for the replaceable strips on the pad and a series of programmes.

Thync recommends that people use the product for four to six weeks. The Relax Pro is available for pre-order now and will be shipping at the end of the month.

Sleep is becoming a major focus for a lot of clubs. TGG has reported how Bournemouth give their players 'sleep packs', consisting of an eye mask, SleepSpecs and infrared torch.

And Robin Thorpe, head of recovery and regeneration Manchester United, says: “Sleep was the big one for us. Getting sleep right is paramount for us as a club and as a performance team. It is a fundamental part of human recovery.”