My My name is Barry Portnoy
I am a Dentist from Westborough MA
I am trying to Improve HIgh School Athletes Game Time Execution either
On-the-Field or On-the-Court or On-the-Ice with
Mouthguards and Mouthpieces
THANK YOU FOR SIGNING UP
FOR THIS PROJECT
WE HAVE MEET OUR QUOTA NEEDS FOR THIS STUDY
My Goal hopefully is to find possible potentially highly motivated High School Baseball Players to participate who are Primarily Focused on Baseball and both work in the gym and on the practice fields year round
Go on Internet & look up:
Reference: Mouthguard Mysteries: Can Wearing One Really Improve Performance; LER (Lower Extemity Review); Nov 2016
Do Baseball players wear mouthguards? - Sportscasting by Zack Willis
Google:
Do Baseball Playersvwear Mouthguards Photos
See the Photos
then read;
Neuromuscular mouthguards hit a home run with Major League Baseball Guard Lab
Just in our initial feedback from first volunteer female senior Softball player test subject replying to new mouthguard questionnaire:
Softball Player #1. From Study on New Mouthguard 7/8/21
Question. Could you say that you felt positive affects with respect to your mouthguard
"IN and ENGAGED". ( As opposed to playing with nothing in your mouth)
More Power
Yes, I felt stronger and more powerful, I was able to squeeze the bat harder and hit the ball farther.
Better Balance
Yes, I had much more balance and a stronger stance at the plate. Also, while catching I had a stronger catchers stance behind the plate.
More Endurance
I haven’t really noticed any difference in my endurance because we don’t run that much.
Easier Breathing
I do have an easier time breathing with it, it gives me more energy.
Question Do You Feel This Is Just A "Placebo Effect" and "Why"?
(In other words, your expectations of the MOUTHGUARD can have a measurable psychological effect just due to the fact you are thinking positively about it so the results may not be actual but in your mind)
I think that this could be a mental thing; however I don’t think it is. I don’t think something in your head can make you perform that much better. Being able to be so much more flexible during activities and being stronger isn’t anything to do with psychological effects; it is definitely the mouth guard. I have never been able to do these things no matter how positively I was thinking. The mouth guard really helped.
Remember
YOU BOY - SHE GIRL
There are always those
GENDER-SPECIFIC ISSUES we have to deal with because of obvious STRUCTURAL; HORMONAL; and DEMONSTRATIVE differences that can skew the results
although these sports are very similar
PLEASE CONTINUE ON:
THIS NEW HYBRID MOUTHGUARD-DEVICE PROJECT IS TO SEE IF BY CHANGING THE JAW RELATION OF THE ATHLETE WHETHER WE CAN ENHANCE HIS PERFORMANCE AND GIVE THE ATHLETE A COMPETITIVE EDGE ELSEWHERE IN THE BODY AS IT RELATES TO SKELETAL PHYSIOLOGY, MUSCLE PHYSIOLOGY, FHP, AND CHANGES IN AIRWAY SPACE HE DID NOT HAVE BEFORE PLAYING WITH NO MOUTHDEVICE.
WATCH THIS VIDEOS FIRST
THEN PROCEED TO READ
IF YOU ARE STILL INTERESTED
We can only improve an athlete's performance if he has dysfunction in his Head and Neck and Occlusion that we can see as a result of Body Asymmetry
If that is the case than we can performance enhance the athlete
Where do we start this process
1. We know what it looks like when your posture is out of wack and you have a poor bite
2. If you stand in front of the athlete, he is a good candidate for this project if you will notice at least 2 of the following:
For a Right Handed Dominant Athlete
1. Head is Not Centered over his Spine
His Head is Tilted to the Left and Forward
2. He Has a Rounding of His Shoulders
3. His Right Shoulder is Lower than his Left
4. His Left Hip is Lower than his Right Hip
5. His Left Knee is Lower than his Right Knee
6. His Rib Cage is Not Symmetrical (This decreases lung capacity and negatively affects Stamina. A decreased lung capacity also decrease oxygen to the brain. This decreases an athltete's ability to concentration and focus under stress.)
7. This Body Asymmetry, Vertebral Mal-Aligment Hinders Athletic Performance
8. FHP Forward Head Posture is the Archiles Heal
9. Is there any Dental Midline Asymmetry
10. Is there any TMJ Dysfunction
11. A Great Athlete's Compensates for thisAdaptive Mechanisms Kicks in and without Knowing to Compensate the Neck starts coming Forward. Again, we are back to the FHP Forward Head Posture Issues
12. Once we can show him something different, it is like a "OOH" moment. We can Improve his Efficiency and Mechanically for Game Time Execution
HOW DOES THIS BASEBALL PROJECT HYPOTHOSIS WORK:
IF AN ATHLETE HAS
CRANIO-MANDIBULAR-CERVICAL
(HEAD-NECK-C SPINE)
(OCCIPUT-C1-C2)
ISSUES (AS A RESULT OF WHEN THE BITE IS INHIBITING THE MANAGEMENT OF THE HEAD & NECK POSITION)
BY USING A MOUTHGUARD TO MANAGE OCCIPUT TO CERVICAL VERTEBRAL POSITION CAN WE ALTER SKELETAL AND MUSCULAR PHYSIOLOGY AND AIRWAY DYNAMICS TO GIVE THE ATHLETE
BETTER VERTEBRAL ALIGNMENT
BETTER MUSCLE RECRUITMENT
BETTER OXYGEN / CARBON DIOXIDE
EXCHANGE
AND AS A RESULT OF THAT
CAN WE IMPROVE THE ATHLETES
STRENGTH
FLEXIBILITY
BALANCE
RANGE OF MOTION
STAMINA AND ENDURANCE
DURING GAME TIME EXECUTION
We use a combination of a MORA TMJ Appliance Theory and a PRI MOOO MANDIBULAR OCCIPITAL OCCLUSAL ORTHODIC Splint Appliance Neutral Theory Positioning Incorprated into a Type III Mouthpiece taking into consideration:
Your Age: It works best we find if you are at least 16 1/2 years old
Dental Occlusion
TMJ
Body Asymmetry
Vertebral Alignment
Muscle Recruitment
Cranio-Mandibular-Cervical Relationship as it relates to Posterior Rotation of the Cranium and Forward Head Posture
FINALLY: SEE THESE VIDEOS
How important is Skeletal Alignment as it affects the Muscle Physiology of an athlete to help him perform better?
How Important is Flexibiltiy to an Athlete?
How Important is BETTER Vertebral Alignment to an Athlete?
WATCH BELOW and SEE WHY it can be important.
A Mouthguard Is the Only Variable In Changing His Skeletal and Muscle Physiology!
How Important Is Strength To An Athlete?
Is A Stronger Athlete Better Than A Weaker Athlete?
Is A Stronger Baseball Player Better Than A Weaker Baseball Player?
How Important is BETTER Vertebral Alignment to an Athlete?
How Important Is Flexibility To An Athlete?
Is It Better To Be More Flexible Or More Rigid?
Is a more flexible range of motion Baseball player BETTER one less flexible more rigid?
How Important is BETTER Alignment is for an Athlete?
How Important is Breathing To An Athlete?
We Will Control Your Airway Space Opening Through Our Mouthguard So That We Can Help You Breathe Easier Thorughout The Game. So When You Need To DIg Deeper During The Last 10 Minutes When Most Games Are Won Or Lost You Will Have An Advantage
How Important is BETTER Vertebral Alignment for an Athlete?
With respect to this Baseball project:
To Give Athlete A Competitive Edge
Playing At Your Optimal "FIXED JAW POSITION"
Goals: "With Mouth Device As Only Variables"
1. Can we Visually Alter the Athlete's FHP and Postural
Chain for Better Vertebral Alignment and
Muscle Recruitment
What these videos show is that:
1. The mouthguard as the only variable in the exercises is all that alters the athlete's ability to facilitate better these exercises.
2. The mouthguard as the only variable in the exercises is all that is changing the skeletal and muscular physiology of the athlete.
3. If you are an athlete wearing a mouthguard or a mouthpiece during competition and it does not allow you to reproduce these changes you see in strength, breathing, flexibilty and balance, then you should at least reconsider getting a new mouthguard/mouthpiece. You may need a new "TOOL" for your "TOOLBOX".
2. Can we Make a Baseball Player Stronger Functionally and More Mechanically Efficient
3. Can we Improve his
Body Symmetry - Vertebral Alignment
Grip Mechanics - Stronger Muscle Recruitment
Stance Mechanics - Balance Foot to Ground Platform
Swing Mechanics - Flexibilty
Hand-Eye-Ball Coordination - Posture
Hit Ball Harder - Strength
Hit Ball Farther - Strength
Run Faster - Body Symmetry
Increase Pitch Velocity - Range of Motion
4. Does Athlete Want To Wear a Mouthpiece in High School Sports Not Requiring One?
5. Are Mouthpieces Devices Results Placebo or Real?
6. Does Athlete has any Positive or Negative comments
about wearing the Mouthpiece Device?
7. Do you feel your Performance Improved by 1-2-3-5% or Hindered your Performance?
Procedure; More info on website www.brportnoydmd.com
1. To fill out a health history.
2. If you are under 18 yo. your parent must fill out your health history and sign in person before you can participate. Min. age requirement 15 ½ yo. due to growth and development issues of jaws.
3. Attend a 1 hour lecture about why and what we believe you will experience with respect to skeletal and physiological changes in your body that might occur.
3. You will go through a preliminary test to see if you would be a good candidate for this project.
4. Have an oral examination of your teeth.
5. Have a dental impression taken of your upper teeth (or have your family dentist take an impression and mail it to me)
6. Return for equilibration of the new mouth device once it is fabricated. Photographs of the mouth device positioned in your mouth as well as videos displaying exercises related to changes in muscle strength or breathing dynamics or flexibility or balance.
7. You give Dr. Portnoy the right to show any of the above and photographs of you on the field with and without the mouth device for lecture, demonstration and educational purposes.
8. You will fill out a 2 page subjective evaluation form and return it after season is over.
9. You may opt out of project at anytime: If device hinders your play; You prefer to go back wearing your old mouthguard; Or by just returning the mouth device.
10. There are no financial cost to participants. Must involve a Adult Elected Liaison Parent for Dr Portnoy
Thanks for listening
Dr Portnoy
Call: 508-366-1700
