SHOCK DOCTOR TEAMS WITH PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL STAR KEVIN LOVE TO INCREASE USE OF MOUTHGUARDS AMONG ATHLETES

Perennial All-Star To Exclusively Wear Shock Doctor Mouthguards on the Court

 

MINNETONKA, MN – September 23, 2014 – Professional basketball star Kevin Love is joining Shock Doctor, a global leader in mouthguard technology, protective gear and recovery products, on a focused venture to reduce the frequency and severity of facial injuries, by increasing adoption of mouthguards among basketball players at every level of competition. Love will exclusively wear Shock Doctor mouthguards on the court and use Shock Doctor’s Ice Therapy for recovery.

While mouthguards are “standard equipment” in football and hockey, they have yet to be widely adopted in basketball at the youth level.  However, the 2012-2013 High School RIO ™, National High School Sports-Related Injury Surveillance Study, University of Colorado, Denver, revealed nearly 30% of all basketball injuries are to the head and face, making it the most common in-game injury. In addition, when comparing injuries throughout all of high school sports, those to the head and face were twice as prevalent as the second-most common injury category.

“I make my living battling with some of the biggest, most talented athletes in professional sports,” said Love. “I have had my fair share of elbows and hands to the face. After years of wearing a mouthpiece, I am excited to be partnering with the #1 mouthguard company in the world to raise awareness for the need for basketball players at every level to protect themselves.”

Love will be the centerpiece of an ongoing campaign to increase discussion among youth athletes, athletic governing bodies, youth leagues, travel ball organizations, high school federations and parents about the benefits of wearing mouthguards.  In support of the campaign, Love will be featured at retail and advertising.

“Kevin is one of the most respected and hardest-working players in the Association,” said Tony Armand, Shock Doctor’s Chief Executive Officer.  “He is a double-double machine with the credibility to elicit behavioral change at every level of the game.”

Love is a three-time all-star, who averaged 26.1 points and 12.5 rebounds last year.  He holds the record for the most consecutive games with double-digit points and rebounds since the merger.  Love was the League’s leading rebounder in 2010-2011 when he averaged 15.1 rebounds per game.

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About Shock Doctor Sports

Shock Doctor Sports is a leading manufacturer of protective and performance sports equipment.  With a relentless focus on innovation and technology, its products are trusted by athletes, from youth to amateur to professional, across a growing number of sports.  Shock Doctor Sports has the world’s leading mouthguard product line and also provides a full continuum of superior athletic products, including core protective, compression, performance sports therapy, sports gloves (under the Cutters ® brand), and insoles.  Its products are sold through major sporting goods retailers, independent dealers, online retailers, and healthcare professionals throughout the United States and around the globe.  For more information on Shock Doctor Sports, please visit www.shockdoctor.com and www.cuttersgloves.com.