MedicAir and Premiership Rugby Team Northampton Saints are delighted to announce a new ‘clean air’ partnership to tackle indoor air pollution at Saints’ indoor spaces, helping to protect the health of its players and its staff.
“Professional sport has an invisible threat,” says Dr. Matthew Perkins, Managing Director of MedicAir. “Mounting studies show there is a direct correlation between indoor air quality (IAQ) and the health and performance of elite sportspeople.”
He goes on, “Changing rooms in particular pose a problem because they are notoriously difficult areas to maintain to a healthy and hygienic standard. These environments are busy places, lacking natural ventilation, usually full of players and staff. As such, airborne germs, viruses and bacteria can be emitted and inhaled, along with chemicals left in the air from cleaning materials and physiotherapy sprays.”
Breathing dirty air has a huge implication for professional sports. If your key players repeatedly miss matches due to viruses or illness-related injuries, clubs lose credibility and, crucially, income.
In the recent World Cup, for instance, French players Adrien Rabiot, Upamecano, Coman and Raphaël Varane were unable to train before the final against Argentina due to a virus. It was a big loss to the French team – and could well have had an impact on the final result of the championship.
The good news is: studies show that air purification can significantly improve athletic performance by increasing oxygen levels and reducing the number of pollutants inhaled by athletes.
Better still, air purification can also help reduce sickness amongst players and staff. A study by the University of California found that air purification systems reduced absenteeism due to sickness by up to 50%.
“Despite the overwhelming evidence of a link between indoor air quality and sports performance, tackling the issue in UK sport is still rare. It’s only highly-advanced football and rugby clubs, like Saints, that are making the decision to do something about it.”
“The fact that Northampton Saints are investing in MedicAir air purification technology to address the problem shows how committed the club is to the health and wellbeing of its players, as well as spectator satisfaction.” says MedicAir’s MD, Dr Matthew Perkins. “We are thrilled to be working with such a prestigious and forward-thinking club.”
Saints first approached British-based MedicAir in 2022 to help address poor indoor air quality having been impressed with the company’s credentials and the quality of their unique air purification technology.
MedicAir supplies medical-grade air purifiers that combine hospital-grade air filtration, activated carbon filtration, and virus-killing UVC technologies in a simple unit that is plugged in and provides instant protection with no professional installation.
MedicAir is found in thousands of NHS hospitals, schools, care homes, and businesses throughout the UK, Europe and North America. Recently, the company has been awarded a year-long contract by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to deliver air purification in hospitals in Mauritius.
The partnership with Northampton Saints Rugby is just the latest in a series of collaborations for MedicAir, who has also worked with a number of professional sports teams and organisations around the world to improve air quality in training and competition environments.
“We are excited to partner with MedicAir to bring the latest air purification technology to the Northampton Saints,” said Club CEO Mark Darbon. “Not only will it benefit the performance of our players, but it will also create a healthier environment for all of our staff.”