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- HITIQ (HIQ) extends its partnership with Bupa Dental following a “positive” retail rollout in 2022
- The company’s smart mouthguards will now become available in up to 184 Bupa clinics across Australia – a significant increase on the 52 stockists in 2022
- With concussion becoming a growing health concern in all levels of contact sports across the globe, HITIQ aims to mitigate the associated risks
- The extension of the partnership was timed in preparation for the amateur Australian Rules (AFL), Rugby League and Rugby Union seasons
- HITIQ shares were down 3.45 per cent, trading at 2.8 cents at 2:10 pm AEDT
HITIQ (HIQ) has extended its partnership with Bupa Dental for 2023 following a “positive” retail rollout in 2022.
The company’s smart mouthguards will become accessible to junior and amateur athletes in up to 184 clinics across the nation.
HITIQ CEO Mike Vegar said both parties aim to build on last years efforts.
“Together with Bupa Dental we discussed many learnings from last year and plan on a more efficient and expanded program this year,” he said.
“Our goal is to provide easy-to-use technology, which parents and amateur athletes can use to identify risk and implement the appropriate interventions more easily.”
HITIQ’s smart mouthguards are used by the AFL and other professional sport codes.
The product includes force measuring sensors that track head knocks, as well as the accumulation of force from hits sustained during a game.
Through the use of a paired mobile app, an alert is provided following the detection of any significant head impact using the company’s concussion injury screening tool.
Concussion has become an increasing concern in contact sports across the globe, with a reported 13 head impacts per game recorded by players on average across major Australian contact sports.
According to the Australian Government, roughly 13 million adults and three million children take part in sport each year, adding to the growing concussion concern.
“Along with Bupa Dental, we are bringing to fruition elite sporting equipment to grassroots markets,” Mr Vegar added.
Bupa Dental Managing Director of Health Services Glenn Thompson said its proud to play its part in making it a safer experience for athletes.
“We remain proud to be at the forefront of technology as the first dental network to offer the HITIQ solution to Australians to help make community sport a safer experience,” he said.
The expansion of the partnership was timed in preparation leading up to the amateur Australian Rules (AFL), Rugby League and Rugby Union seasons.
HITIQ shares were down 3.45 per cent, trading at 2.8 cents at 2:10 pm AEDT.
