An ultra high-tech tooth protector is claiming nearly unbelievable, physical improvement in athletic performance
Posted 02.11.2009 at 1:22 pm
11 Comments
Changing of the Guard
PPM
You’ve likely seen athletes chewing on them, spitting them out or sticking them in their helmet. But a high tech version of what seems part mouth fetish and part tooth protector has performance enhancing capability according to data from Pure Power Mouthguard. Research conducted at Rutgers University (funded by PPM) claims some impressive, nearly unbelievable, physical improvement from just wearing the guard. Wait till WADA gets a hold of this one.
The PPM claims that its fitting method based on neuromuscular dentistry is unlike other ‘custom fit’ mouthguards in the industry. The blind crossover study took 22 male collegiate and professional athletes and tested their vertical jump, bench press and put the athletes through the Wingate Anaerobic Test. Each athlete sat through the detailed fitting procedure for a PPM (see below). For the vertical jump (highest of three) there was a significant increase with the PPM of 67.6 vs 65.3 cm. Bench press showed no significant difference while the Wingate test showed a significant increase in peak power but no difference in average power.
So what makes this piece of plastic so special? According to PPM, as the teeth wear down due to grinding and chewing the lower jaw moves out of alignment requiring the facial muscles (maetters, temporalis) to adapt. The fitting process of the PPM finds the location of the lower jaw where those muscles are relaxed, often in the down and forward position. The optimal location for each athlete is determined by delivering a low voltage through the jaw and monitoring the muscles in the face via EMG. The bite is captured at the point of a lowest resistance and the mouthguard is built to those specifications.
Traditional custom mouthguards require just a standard dental impression wherever the jaw might rest. The more thorough PPM process can take between 80 and 90 minutes and is only possible at the office of neuromuscular dentist (just 400 nationwide currently).
While the concept of a jaw alignment effecting athletic performance might sound farfetched (okay, unbelievable) PPM notes it’s been in the literature for decades. Research studies have shown muscular reaction to gross adjustments in the jaw. Some not-so-bad athletes apparently realized the advantage early in life.
"Michael Jordan, the greatest basketball player ever, stuck his tongue out as he was driving for the basket. By sticking his tongue out, he was putting his jaw in that relaxed position. It probably wasn't done consciously. It was something he just started doing at the age of 12 and it worked for him," said PPM inventor Dr. Anil Makkar.
What PPM has done is adapt a more sophisticate accurate system to finding that optimal position. While the technology launched in 2006, just 1000 pro and college athletes have purchased the mouthguard. Why so few? Precision comes at a price. At $1600 a piece, you better make sure those two extra centimeters matter (and stop chewing on the mouthguard).
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This new gadget is encouraging as it couldn't come at a better time, especially for some of the pros, who've been found out for using steroids.
This is the same mouthguard helping Manny Ramirez blast his home runs..... for LA not Boston......
I have fit many amateur and pro athletes who swear by it. Now we have the science to justify the magic. If you are an aspiring pro, a weekend golfer, or an all star this is THE must have athletic equipment.
Well this is certainly an alternative to what Baseball players thought they need to stay in the game
two grand is alot cheaper than taking a hgh shot or a testostorone (pardon the spelling)at 125 dollars a shot.
More importanly you probably will live longer using the mouthguard instead of injecting yourself with chemicals.
Aroid
My husband was fitted for a PPM last year. He wears it for golf and he loves it. In 6 weeks his handy cap dropped 3 strokes and when he plays he no longer has shoulder pain while wearing his PPM.
Can this help me be "like Mike"....I always wanted to stick my tongue out but didn't want to look like a fool...I have been trying to dunk for years...I am 6'2 and can jump and grab a standard rim without the ball...Is this what I need to put me over the top...or should I stick with H.G.H
If, I understand this right,if this can increase initial peak power, then this is a huge discovery.
I would love to see the actual scientific report from Rutgers.
This company may have something so big, that it could change the level of playing in sports.
Where is this company located?
"$1600 a piece" for 2 inch increase in your jump???
overpriced, im sure A-rod or barry bonds can find a cheaper method ;P
This mouthguard is 100% pure Placebo.
I have who has one and there is no way to keep any subject blinded to get real unbiased results. Plus he told me it took like a few hours to get fitted for it. 2hrs in a dentists seat listening to someone telling you you can jump higher might be enough to make you jump 3.5% higher.
No good science means market the hell out of it and enough people will buy your BS.
This mouthguard is 100% pure Placebo.
I have a friend who has one and there is no way to keep any subject blinded to get real unbiased results. Plus he told me it took like a few hours to get fitted for it. 2hrs in a dentists seat listening to someone telling you you can jump higher might be enough to make you jump 3.5% higher.
No good science means market the hell out of it and hope enough people will buy your BS.
If you think it is BS you are mistaken. How do you refute the SCIENCE behind this device? Are you even aware what it does physiologically? Pretty silly to think that telling an elite athlete he can jump higher will make him jump higher. If that were the case every NBA team would have a guy in the locker room telling every player he could jump higher. If you look at the recent college combine stats, what is it worth to jump higher or react quicker or have better balance? The answer to that is A LOT! Do you think Michael Redd or Shaq would use something that is not proven? Do some research...find out how this helps, then you can make an informed decision, but just because you don't know anything about it doesn't mean it doesn't work. I have seen this work again and again. Find someone who has one and ask them how it is. But make sure it is a PPM, not a knock-off.
We have who has one and there is no way to keep any subject blinded to get real unbiased results. Plus he told me it took like a few hours to get fitted for it. 2hrs in a dentists seat listening to someone telling you you can jump higher might be enough to make you jump 3.5% higher.
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