The AgilityGuard Helps Rocklin Athlete Achieve Excellence in Sport

Ariana Wong has been skiing for many years and is always on the lookout for news ways to improve her performance on the slopes.

The 18 year-old from Rocklin, California – a suburb of Sacramento – knows that every second counts in her game of choice and this is why she regularly trains, works out, practices, and seeks new methods of boot tightening, waxing, and of course purchasing the right gear and ski apparel. When you do the right things, it all adds up.

Just recently however, the popular Rocklin High School student learned of something she never heard of before, something that would take her game to a whole new level: a mouth guard.

“Well I never thought a dentist would be the person that would help give me that real edge I need in sport,” laughs Ariana during an interview. “Sure enough, the dentist has made me a real winner on the slopes.”

Her dentist is Dr. Art Kwan, a renowned neuromuscular dentist in the area, whose practice is only blocks away from where Wong and her family reside.

Dr. Kwan is offering athletes a new sport orthotic called the AgilityGuard, a device which aligns an athlete’s jaw, placing it in its optimal position. Based on over 40 years of neuromuscular research, it is proven that when one’s jaw is aligned it significantly improves their strength, balance, flexibility, agility, range of motion and even oxygen flow. Many athletes throughout Sacramento and California are turning to Dr. Kwan to try out this new technology. He has fitted a large number of athletes since offering the device to patients, and earlier this year was named the official Northern California AgilityGuard Provider.

“When I first heard about this new invention, I admit I was very sceptical,” says Ariana. “But once Dr. Kwan did some simple tests on me, I was blown away from the get-go and got fitted.”

Pure magic on the slopes
Ariana, who has been using the device for only a few weeks now, highly credits it for helping her place second overall in the J1 Ladies Division of the Far West Finals – 2011 Sugar Bowl, an event that was held at Heavenly Ski Resort in early April. The backdrop of the event was in special memory of Emily Clothier who passed away at the age of only 14. The event each year attracts the cream of the crop of skiers, many of whom of whom go on to compete in major competitions around the world and the Winter Olympics.

“Ariana has tremendous talent and she is an amazing athlete,” says Dr. Kwan during an interview his state-of-the art-office, Nu Smile Center for Aesthetic & Restorative Dentistry. “Like all athletes I work with – weekend warriors and professionals alike – I knew the AgilityGuard was the answer in giving her that real edge she needs on the slopes.”

Ariana says she noticed a major difference while using the device during the Far West Finals.

“Before the competition everyone participating had the opportunity to inspect the course,” says Ariana. “However, due to timing, I never had a chance to scope out the second course. I did great on my first runs, but went to the second course basically blinded and yes, I was worried. However, the device really helped me out in a big way: I was ready for any surprise, and my jaw was totally aligned and I was aggressive – making all the right twists and turns while maintaining my balance. My parents, coaches and friends all noticed that my performance improved: I was snappier and more in tune than ever before.”

The Science behind the AgilityGuard
The AgilityGuard is connected directly to science and backed by many years of research. “It is proven that when your jaw is aligned, then your strength, balance, flexibility, range of motion, agility and oxygen flow greatly improve,” explains Dr. Kwan. “This is just what the AgilityGuard does: it aligns one’s jaw in its most optimized position, allowing them to perform better in their sport of choice.”

Since this is no boil and bite guard, the process for fitting athletes is lengthy and requires high-tech gear to find an athlete’s correct bite. A TENS machine is used to find an athlete’s correct bite while a K7 tracking unit reveals the true optimized position of the jaw.”

“This special bite is the foundation of an athlete unlocking their true potential,” says Dr. Kwan. “Once the athlete bites into the AgilityGuard, he or she settles into a performance zone and the muscles in the face become relaxed, which for the more efficient engagement of the muscles.”

Dr. Kwan and all AgilityGuard providers are trained at the esteemed Occlusion Connections: Center for Gneuromuscular Dentistry & Orthopedic Occlusal Advancement in Las Vegas. Dr. Clayton A. Chan, founder and owner of Occlusion Connections, and Dr. Joseph Andary, a neuromuscular dentist in Oakville, ON, Canada, are the inventors of this new device. The AgilityGuard is a device being offered by the Triumphant Agility Group (TAG). Dr. Chan has been training many neuromuscular dentists over the years on the technique of finding the optimized bite.

Proud of daughter and amazed with new invention

Ariana’s mother, Sonia Wong, says she is blown away with how well her daughter recently performed on the slopes.

“During the Far West Finals, Ariana was snappier and more better balanced in her runs – I am just so impressed,” she says.

“She was like a quick fox. Her turns were so much better and you could tell that she was more on her game. As everyone knows, every second counts on the slopes. This new device will give anyone that edge they need to help improve their balance, strength, precision, and speed on the slopes.”

Sonia also indicated that Ariana is an avid tennis player. “Since the ski season is now winding down, Ariana will is looking forward to using the device on the courts during the spring, summer and fall months.”

As well, Ariana is also a violin player. While practicing and performing, violinists need to ensure they have proper balance and posture while standing. “She will definitely be using the guard while playing the violin,” says Sonia.

Sonia’s mother is very impressed with how the technology works overall.

“The benefits of proper jaw alignment seem endless, really,” she says. “Interestingly enough, Ariana had a headache a few days ago. She put the device in and wore it for a while and sure enough her headache was gone in no time. In the past, I suggested she take an Advil to get rid of her headache, but now she is sticking with the guard no matter what.”

After her youngest daughter gets fitted with the AgilityGuard by Dr. Kwan, Sonia says she will then get one for herself.

“I even did the tests with Dr. Kwan and my daughter before she was fitted,” says Sonia. “I was amazed: I could reach further and stretch further – I noticed a difference in my performance on many levels.”

Everyone should get the AgilityGuard
This fall, Ariana will begin her studies in electrical engineering at the California Polytechnic State University (Cal-Poly). While she is a math and physics buff, she will of course continue to compete in skiing and tennis competitions.

The new device that Dr. Kwan provided me with has really made a huge difference for me in sport,” says Ariana. “I am telling all my coaches, fellow athletes and friends that they just have to go for some simple tests and get fitted with the AgilityGuard.”

She adds, “After getting the device, anyone will notice a real difference in the sport of choice. This new invention is amazing – it’s a natural sports enhancer that will give you a new edge on your game.”

In all, Ariana knows that this new device will help all women achieve success in their sport of choice.

Athletes Praise New Technology
Dr. Kwan has fitted a large number of athletes with the AgilityGuard including renowned US snowboarders Kenneth Carson and Thomas Parachou, both of whom hail from California.

The roster of athletes using the AgilityGuard is growing. People like 16-time National Indoor Cycling Champion Giddeon Massie and 8-time Olympic medalist Apolo Anton Ohno are now using the device. John Schaeffer, trainer to 8-time Olympic medalist, Apolo Anton Ohno, and several other world-class athletes, is now educating his athletes on the powers of neuromuscular dentistry and the benefits of this new technology. Schaffer is also the founder of Winning Factor and is a professor for the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA).

There are three different types of Agility Guards that athletes can be fitted with: Phi (650 USD); Trophy TENS (900 USD): and Trophy K7 (995 USD).

“This device is far more effective than any other mouth guard out there and its price is much more reasonable for both the weekend warriors, amateurs and professionals,” says Dr. Kwan.

To learn more about the Agility Guard, please visit: www.agilityguard.com

Paul W. Fitzgerald is an international journalist. His work appears in a large number of newspapers and magazines around the world. Notable publications that have published his work include The Globe and Mail, Maclean’s Magazine, The Times, The New Canadian, CNN-I Report, Dreamscapes and EQ. He is also the President and CEO of Salt & Pepper Media Inc., a global public relations/mass media firm. He is also the Editor of Thursday Night Magazine . He resides in Toronto, ON.