PRI Worcester Cervical Revolution Attendees

As a result of my sports dentistry training I incorporate malocclusion, the TMJ and the muscular and skeletal issues that need to be addressed as it affects an impaired athletic performance as a result of an improperly aligned postural chain.

If you have a malocclusion resulting in dysfunction related to the Teeth, TMJ and Muscles of Mastication then dysfunctional movement can shows up elsewhere in the body to affect full body movement.

PRI's posture based approach to management of clients and athletes which considers the influence of the skeleton, muscles and dental occlusion on the postural chain but more important to me as a dentist that you are the only ones addressing FHP and its sequelae as it relates to muscle hypertonicity, postural chain accomodation, airway space and C-spine lordosis. In the 8 years I've been a Sports Dentist the concept and consequences of FHP in athletes has never been breached as lecture topics with detail, understanding and therapeutic results that I've been exposed to in the last 2 days at the Cervical Revolution course. I know I've seen it over the years but it wasn't til now that I can absolutly put it all in perspective.  You are making it better in understanding the why of improving performance.

Also your treatment plan to restore the client to "neutral" by first working on the pelvis (hamstrings, guteus medius and/or glutreu maximus), second the diaphragm and ribcage, sternum and shoulder girdle (improve respiration and breathing) and third and finally the neck and how malocclusion is a factor in it all.

When your PRI Physical Therapy Treatment Plan is at the stage to address a dental malocclusion component related to the neck and FHP (forward head posture) to further balance and obtain neutrality in the musculoskeletal system and if you don't already have a consulting dentist to refer your clients to for the fabrication of mandibular splints (PRI Mooo Appliance - MANDIBULAR OCCIPITAL OCCLUSSAL ORTHOTIC) to break neural interferences to initiate reprogramming of muscles to "free-up" the "bite" to help you stabilze the neck, I am glad to be of assistance. Click on: PRI Case Study EG to see how Mike Roberts and I changed this triathlon athletes FHP with the MOOO Splint followed by my performance enhancing mouthpiece.  Only through the MOOO Splint were we able to reach Cranial Neutrality. However as you will see in the videos that the athlete needs the mouthpiece to compete because in comparrison the performance enhancing mouthpiece jaw postion increases/improves his strength and breathing. We will test him when he comes in for his next adjustment to see how his flexibility and core balance is. The athlete will continue to use my mouthdevice when he competes but will wear the adjusted MOOO Splint for his exercises and to keep himeself Neutral.

It takes months - years of preparation to prime an athlete for competition. It involves attitude, perserverance, 

rigorous training, practice time, nutrition and hydration regime, strength and conditioning, physical therapy especially as it relates to posture, balance, the influence of the muscle patterning and kinetic movement necessary for your sport. Your head coach and assistant coaches expertise, understanding what it takes to win and the studying of your opponent's strategies and how they might execute their game plan against you. The role of your certified athletic trainer with respect to preventive services, clinical evaluation of diagnosis, immediate treatment care, rehabilitation, recovery and reconditioning. "It truly takes a village" to get athletes ready to compete.

He/She is in your best shape for game time execution to succeed:

Still with that said - Can it be improved upon?

Do not overlook that a dental component may help improve upon the athletes strength, flexibility, balance and stamina and endurance.

Can we put another - "Tool in your Toolbox"?

Can mouthguards and oral mouthpieces that change the maxillo/mandibular jaw relation affect the athlete's skeletal and muscle physiology? 

The goal is for the teeth, muscles, joints and bones to be harmonious for athletic performance by putting the mandible in a more optimal position. When the muscles of the head and neck are in a more relaxed state we believe a better Cranio-Mandibular-Cervical Vertebral Alignment means better muscle recruitment and airway space control.

When I am working with athletes now

"I NEVER LOOK AT THE TEETH FIRST ANYMORE AFTER MY PRI EXPOSURE" 

I prefer now to view the athlete in the following order:

                   1. Their body posture especially any FHP

                   2. How their head is postioned on their body

                   3. Do I see that the jaw has symmetry or asymmetry

                   4. The shoulders is one lower than the other in height

                   5. The hips is one lower than the other in height.

                   6. The knee is one lower than the other in height

                   7. Dental examination looking at the general health of their teeth, occlusion, obvious occlusal flags, TMJ and any history of orthodontics.

                   8. To "immediately" see if I can actually try to crudely affect their body physiology by altering their maxillo-mandibular relationship in small ".25mm" increments to see what kind of responses I can illicit.

                   9.  At that point I pretty much know if I can be of help.

We utilize MORA (Mandibular Orthopedic Repositioning Appliance) Theory to assist in repositioning the mandible to a more optimal position. When the teeth, muscles, joints and spine are in a more harmonious relationship to each other then there is a better Cranio-Mandibular-Cervical Alignment resulting in improved athletic performance. We will put our athletes in a Type IV Mouthguard taking into consideration:

Dental Occlusion

TMJ

Body Asymmetry

The Cranio-Mandibular-Cervical Relationship as it relates to Posterior         Rotation of the Cranium with its resultant Forward Head Posture.

To understand the possibility of a change in your upper-to-lower jaw position to body dynamics watch the following videos below:

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.  A mouthguard or a mouthpiece during competition may give you a competitive edge. 

More Case Studies

Click here to view: PRI Case Study EG