Kiwis - out of the World Cup gloom into blue-light travel therapy. Photo / Peter Meecham
Kiwis - out of the World Cup gloom into blue-light travel therapy. Photo / Peter Meecham
The Kiwis will use "revolutionary" travel remedies including blue-light therapy for their June test match against England in Denver.
There are player health concerns around the summer game at the high altitude stadium.
The Kiwis don't even have a coach right now, but they do have a travel plan accordingto the Sydney Morning Herald which says it has seen an NZRL medical overview paper.
It includes:
1) Players will receive melatonin for the first three days in America to help deal with sleep issues caused by changing time zones. Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone which regulates sleeping times - supplementary doses are used to beat insomnia and it is a common jet lag treatment.
2) Not so common is use of blue-light therapy, which the Kiwis will use to overcome sleep and mood disorders. According to some websites, blue spectrum light helps reset the body clock although get it wrong and it can make things worse. Ironically, blue light stops the release of melatonin.
3) Next stop, humidi-flyer masks, which are used overcome dehydration by recycling exhaled moisture. The All Blacks have long used them.
7) The Kiwis will hold only two training sessions before the game on June 23.
8) Specific staff will stay with any players whose travel home is delayed by injury.
The report said NZRL medical adviser Dr Simon Mayhew came up with the plan assisted by Australian football's science chief Dr Craig Duncan, Kiwis doctor Greg Macleod, Auckland Blues doctor Stephen Kara, and two NRL club specialists.
It is standard practice at the stadium to have oxygen ready by the field, which players use to beat the added tiredness.
The Mile High Stadium's chief paramedic Roger Ames has never treated an athlete for altitude sickness in 27 years at the arena.
Ames said: "Athletes are in such good shape the only thing they complain of is getting tired or winded faster, but that resolves quickly as well. If you are here a few days before they will adjust to it just fine."
