Technology
How does boxing headgear influence concussion risk?
Quick fact
A properly fitted mouthguard can reduce concussion risk by absorbing up to 50% of the shock wave before it reaches the base of the skull.
Why this is interesting
A mouthguard doesn't just save your smile—it reduces the risk of a knockout by absorbing impact that would otherwise travel from the jaw directly into the brain stem.
Read the full explanation
Understanding How does boxing headgear influence concussion risk?
The jaw joint sits directly below the brain. A punch to the chin transmits a shockwave straight up the mandible, rattling the brain against the skull's interior. The mouthguard creates a cushion that spreads this impact over a longer time.
A deeper explanation
This cushioning does two things: it prevents the condyle (jaw joint) from violently slamming into the temporal bone, which causes rapid rotational acceleration that tears brain tissue, and it deforms to absorb energy. By increasing the impact duration by just 0.5 milliseconds, a mouthguard reduces peak rotational acceleration by nearly 40%. That single piece of plastic transforms a potentially career-ending uppercut into a survivable hit, turning knockout physics into a game of milliseconds and millimeters.