The Mask Maker

Friday, December 16, 2011

THE MASK MAKER 

December 2011 - Jeremy Murray, Certified Orthotist and Licensed Occupational Therapist in the Orthotics Department of Michigan Hand and Sports Rehabilitation Centers, finds himself quite busy during the high school and college basketball seasons.  Although the department offers a wide array of orthotic services, they are best known for their personalized protective face masks.

Pioneered by Jerry McHale, CO in 1988-89, facial protection has now achieved a wide level of acceptance in the sports world.  Although best known for their protection on the basketball court, athletes of all kind find returning to their avocations without apprehension easy with the use of a custom protective facemask fabricated by Murray.

This unique protection is used to support a wide variety of injuries and problems including fractures, lacerations, facial reconstruction, Collaboma/Cats eye syndrome and detached retinas.  Athletes from the grade school level through high school, college and the professional level have been treated with unprecedented levels of success. 

“I’ve made masks for people as young as for and as old as in their 60s,” said Jeremy Murray, CO, OTR.  “Most masks are for soccer and basketball, but I’ve made them for cheerleading, water polo, horse polo, martial arts, off season football, squash/racquetball, baseball, softball, volleyball, field hockey and some others.  I have been able to work with people from all 50 states (including Alaska and Hawaii) and from over 30 different countries - including several prominent athletes.”

Creating a mask for Detroit Piston Rip Hamilton in 2004 was one of Jeremy’s most widely recognized pieces as Rip and the Pistons went on to win the NBA title.  Other athletes helped include:  Pistons Charlie Villanueva, Antonio McDyess, and Carlos Aaroyo:  Reid Priddy, captain of the US men’s indoor volleyball team; and Shola Ameobi and Steven Taylor on the Newcastle United Football Club.  Athletes at  Michigan State, Oakland University, Hope College, University of Windsor, Eastern Michigan, Detroit Mercy, University of North Carolina, Kansas, Loyola Marymount, Georgia Tech, Davidson, St. Joseph’s, Toledo, Niagara, NYU, and Brown University have used Murray Masks, as have more than 500 others. 

It takes Murray 24-48 hours to make a mask - each hand sculpted. Impact testing on the masks at Wayne State’s Ballistic Laboratory helps to ensure the safety of the piece.  More information is available at www.customfacemasks.com.

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Michigan Hand and Sports Rehabilitation Center is a division of Michigan Surgery Specialists, PC, an Orthopaedic Surgery practice with a full spectrum of specialized services performed with advanced diagnostic equipment. Specialties include: Hand Surgery, Knee and Shoulder Replacement/Reconstructive Surgery, Sports Medicine, Foot and Ankle Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Breast Augmentation, and Neurological and Vascular Procedures. msspc.com

Media Contact:                 Chris Morrisroe,  cmorrisroe@comcst.net, 248-666-3897