The greatest hockey player that ever lived, Wayne Gretzky, paraded around in a porous helmet—it’s a wonder he never suffered a concussion. And football used to be played with leather helmets in days gone by.
While the Riddells and CCMs of the world have helped advance protective headwear, a company based in Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada is hoping to do the same for mouth protection with the Pure Power Mouthguard (PPM).
We all know the classic mouthguard—a piece of plastic you drop into boiling water and bite on to conform to the shape of your jaw.
The PPM takes it one step further.
Developed by Dr. Anil Makkar and trainer Chuck Sproule using a special TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation) machine, an athlete’s jaw is stimulated so that it is completely relaxed.
“TENS is like a mild electrical massage to the nerves that move the muscles of the face, shoulders, and neck,” explained Dr. Gary Lederman, a certified New York area doctor and part owner of the company that makes the mouthguard.
“The muscles become relaxed and refreshed, making the location of the jaw’s optimal position possible.”
