@kennycro@@aol.com, any more information on this? Off the shelf or custom? Links? I would be willing to experiment with this.
Thanks.
-S-
Steve,
Below is the abstract from the research article. I have the full article that I can send you, if you want it.
J Strength Cond Res. 2016 Apr;30(4):1102-10. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001192.
Effects of Jaw Clenching While Wearing a Customized Bite-Aligning Mouthpiece on Strength in Healthy Young Men.
Buscà B1,
Morales J,
Solana-Tramunt M,
Miró A,
García M.
Author information
Abstract
Recent studies have investigated the ergogenic effects of different types of mouthguards. There is evidence of the benefits of clenching customized mouthpieces on force and power development. The phenomenon called concurrent activation potentiation (CAP) promoted in jaw clenching seems to enhance the muscular strength and power in maximal isometric contractions and powerful actions in sport. Moreover, a bite-aligning mouthpiece may promote a more aligned and powerful clench. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of jaw clenching while wearing a customized bite-aligning mouthpiece (MP) on jump ability and isometric maximal strength tests in contrast to 2 other conditions: nonjaw clenching (NON-JAW) and jaw clenching without the mouthpiece (JAW). A within-subjects design was used to assess the jump performance and the maximal isometric force in 28 physically active male subjects. Statistical analyses revealed significantly higher performance in JAW and NON-JAW conditions for handgrip force (HG-peakforce) and all variables of the back-row exercise (BRW) and countermovement vertical jump (CMVJ) (p ≤ 0.05). Significant differences between NON-JAW and JAW were found for HG-peakforce (p ≤ 0.05). These findings suggest that it is advisable to use a customized bite-aligning mouthpiece to improve strength and power performance.
Cheap Mouth Guard
I tried a cheap mouth guard from Walmart. The custom made ones are costly.
It worked fairly well. However, I have a strong gag reflex to things like that go into my mouth like that as and getting x-ray at the dentist. So, it didn't work well for me. I may give it another try since I grind my teeth on hard reps.
In performing Depth Landings (dropping off a 36 in high box with fairly heavy dumbbells and just sticking the landing) years ago, my teeth hurt more than anything else. I definitely was clench my teeth, bracing for the impact. Like most, I clench my teeth in grinding out hard reps, as well.
Clenching you teeth is definitely a form of bracing or...
Pavel's Irradiation
It seems preposterous to a bodybuilder that clenching your cheeks and bracing your abs will strengthen your grip, but that's the way your body works. What I teach... is something called
irradiation.
Make a fist, Chris, a tight, white-knuckle fist. Notice how the tension spreads into your biceps, shoulder and chest. So whenever the load is meaningful, the tension will spread elsewhere. It's going to happen. If you try to fight it, you'll only hurt yourself.
Off The Shelf
You might try getting a inexpensive one an see how it work.