Smart mouthguards are outfitted with sensors to detect head injury or possible concussion. In early 2024, World Rugby became the first sports organization to include the mouthguards in its head injury assessment protocol. The mouthguards feature sensors that detect and measure the severity of collisions, then send that information wirelessly to an iPad or other device used by a sideline physician, who can pull a player out of a game for assessment.
Deep dive
One mouthguard featured in Rugby World has a proximity sensor that ensures data is recorded only when it’s in a player’s mouth, and an aerial sensor that transmits readings in real-time to staff on the sidelines. It also contains a triaxial gyroscope to measure the orientation and direction of impact, and an accelerometer to measure acceleration forces from an impact in a specific direction.
National Football League and the military are also testing these mouthguards. The NFL partnered with eight colleges and universities for a research study to gather data from several hundred players, according to an NFL press release. The Department of Defense has been conducting its own studies to monitor blunt forces from parachute landing falls, combat training and other military activities.