Objectives The range of motion (ROM) of the cervical spine and postural stability are important for an economical and motorically adequate adaptation of the body to any situation. Therefore, this study aims to analyze whether these two components of postural and movement control can be influenced by means of a splint in a centric position compared to habitual occlusion. Methods 38 recreational male athletes volunteered. Cervical spine ROM was recorded using an ultrasound system and the a pressure measuring plate for postural stability (length of center of pressure (CoP) movement, area of CoP). The two dental occlusion conditions employed were the habitual occlusion and wearing a splint in an idealized, condylar position close to the centric position. Level of significance was set at ρ ≤ 0.05. Results The cervical spine mobility increased significantly by wearing the splint regarding rotation to the left (+3.9%) and right (+2.7%) and lateral flexion to the left (+4.4%) and right (+6.7%). Wearing the splint reduced the area of sway deflections by about 31.5% in the bipedal stance and by about 2.4% (left) and 28.2% (right) in the unipedal stance. The CoP trace was reduced in the sagittal plane by approximately 8.2% in the right single-leg stance. Conclusions The major findings seem to demonstrate that wearing a splint that keeps the jaw close to the centric relation may increase the cervical ROM and may improve balance stability in male recreational athletes. Changing the jaw relation in athletes can possibly aid the release of performance potentials by improving coordination skills.
Introduction: An altered dental occlusion can also affect balance stability or mobility. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine whether wearing a mandibular splint, which retains the occlusion close to the centric occlusion, can increase or decrease balance stability and the range of motion (ROM) of the cervical spine as opposed to the habitual occlusion, and if there is a difference between men and women. Material and methods: In this study, 41 male (34.7 ± 11.4 years) and 50 female subjects (29.3 ± 12.7 years) participated. Cervical spine ROM was recorded using the Zebris CMS 70P system. For balance stability, a pressure measuring platform integrated into the treadmill system (FDM-T) of the company Zebris® Medical GmbH was used. Here, the area of the ellipse and the length of the Center of Pressure (CoP) was recorded whilst in the bipedal and unipedal stance. Results: The sex comparison showed significant differences for the area of the ellipse of the right leg and ROM extension in the habitual occlusion: females showed a better balance stability and a larger ROM extension. When wearing the splint, only the CoP of the left leg was significant with a better balance stability in female subjects. Within the male subjects, the ellipse area in the bipedal and unipedal (left/right) stance showed mostly significant reductions, while the rotation left and right as well as the lateral flexion (left/right) improved when wearing the splint. Female subjects, when wearing the splint, showed a significant decrease of the ellipse area and the CoP length when standing on either leg. Flexion, rotation to the right and lateral flexion to the left/right, all increased significantly. Conclusion: Wearing a splint that keeps the jaw close to the centric relation improved balance stability and increased the ROM of the cervical spine for both male and female subjects. Women may have marginally different basic balance stability strategies than men, with regard to bipedal and unipedal standing. Nevertheless, there are scarcely any differences between the two sexes in the adaptation when wearing a splint. Changing the jaw relation in healthy adults can possibly support the release of movement potentials that simplify the performance of everyday activities or sports movements.
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