My name is Barry Portnoy
I am a Dentist from Westborough MA
I am currently doing a study evaluation of a Mouthguard Device to be used for Baseball Players to Improve their
On-the-Field Game Time Execution
I would like to include Softball Players also in this project to compare the results between Boys and Girls
NOTE:
There are 5 million dental injuries per year. 13-39% are oral-facial.
80-90% involve the upper 4 front teeth
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 by Zack Willis
I am looking for 10-15 highly motivated high school athletes for this project
There is NO COST for the applicants
I am trying to obtain data and how playing with this mouthguard device compares to not wearing it.
I am planning on giving a future lecture and would like to include Baseball and Softball data which I don't have as yet.
I will be doing more Field Hockey in the fall 2021 and Basketball in the winter of 2021
I don't have a lot of experience with Softball as it is not one of fields of expertise however I do have data from only one softball player who was senior captain of her high school team about 5 years ago
You can read her comments from her questionaire below:
Softball Player #1. Data
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.
a. I CAN NOT I REPEAT I CAN NOT MAKE YOU ANY STRONGER THAN YOU ACTUALLY ARE BECAUSE OF ALL YOUR GAME TIME PREPARATION WRT STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING AND PRACTICE THAN YOU ACTUALLY ARE
BETTER MUSCLE RECRUITMENT
BALANCE
about wearing the Mouthpiece Device?
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.
If you are still interested please continue
The Basic Idea is to Change the Skeletal and Muscular Physiology and their Airway Dynamics to Improve their Performance
We can only improve an athlete's performance if she has dysfunction in her 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 sports athlete
Where do we start this process
1. We know what it looks like when your posture is out of wack and you have dysfunction in your neck and occlsion (your "bite")
2. If you stand in front of the athlete, she 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 her Spine
Her Head is Tilted to the Left and Forward
2. She Has a Rounding of Her Shoulders
3. Right Shoulder is Lower than her Left
4. Right Hip is Higher than her Left Hip
5. Right Knee is Higher than her Left Knee
6. Her 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 or Forward Head Posture
we believe is a Major Issue
9. Is there any Dental Midline Asymmetry
10. Is there any TMJ Dysfunction
11. A Great Athlete Compensates for this by Adaptive Mechanisms which Kicks in and without Knowing to Compensate the Neck starts coming Forward. Again, we are back to the FHP Forward Head Posture Issues
12. WE TEST INITIALLY TO SEE IF WE CAN CHANGE "THE BITE" OF THE ATHLETE in .25 mm INCREMENTS TO SEE IF SHE WILL RESPOND POSTIVELY TO ONE OF OUR DOWELS. THIS WILL TELL US IF WE CAN CHANGE HER SKELETAL PHYSIOLOGY HER MUSCLE PHYSIOLOGY AND HER AIRWAY DYNAMICS TO UTILIZE HER BODY ENERGY MORE EFFICIENTLY. THIS IS LIKE A "WOOOH" FACTOR. YOU ARE DEFINITELY NOT STRONGER THAN YOU WERE JUST 10 SECONDS AGO. WE ARE JUST TRYING TO NAKE YOU MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND.
13. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT POINT:
a. I CAN NOT I REPEAT I CAN NOT MAKE YOU ANY STRONGER THAN YOU ACTUALLY ARE BECAUSE OF ALL YOUR GAME TIME PREPARATION WRT STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING AND PRACTICE THAN YOU ACTUALLY ARE
b. ALL I AM DOING IS FINDING A FIXED JAW POSITION SO THAT THE BODY STRENGTH YOU ALREADY HAVE CAN BE DISTRIBUTED TO YOUR CORE MUSCLES MORE EFFICIENTLY. as a RESULT OF VERTEBRAL RE-ALIGNMENT for BETTER MUSCLE RECRUITMENT TO ALLOW YOU TO BE MECHANICALLY MORE EFFICIENT AND HAVE MORE STAMINA AND ENDURANCE DURING THE LAST 10 MINUTES OF THE GAMES WHEN MOST GAMES ARE WON AND LOST
HOW DOES THIS SOFTBALL 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 her 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 Her Skeletal and Muscle Physiology!
How Important Is Strength To An Athlete?
Is A Stronger Athlete Better Than A Weaker Athlete?
Is A Stronger Softball Player Better Than A Weaker Softball 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 Softball 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 Softball 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
2. Can we Make a Softball Player Stronger Functionally and More Mechanically Efficient
3. Can we Improve her
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 the 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
