Exercise Capacity in Athletes with Mouthguards

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of wearing a mouthguard on maximal exercise capacity and cardiopulmonary parameters at peak workload, and to assess the athletes' attitudes toward wearing a mouthguard. Thirteen volunteer male athletes (18 to 27 years old) were interviewed before and after delivery of a custom-made laminated mouthguard. A visual analogue scale (VAS, 0 - 100 mm) was used for judgment of interference with breathing, speaking, concentration and athletic performance. In addition, the athletes were subjected to a cardiorespiratory examination on a cycle ergometer with and without mouthguards. Subjectively, the athletes rated the mean interference with performance to be 37 mm VAS at the beginning of the study. Mean scores of impairment decreased to 23 mm VAS (p = 0.081) after wearing the mouthguard for four weeks, and further improved to 12 mm VAS (p < 0.001) after the test on the cycle ergometer. Objectively, the maximum workload during spiroergometry was even slightly elevated during exercise with the mouthguard (330.2 W) compared to exercise without the mouthguard (314.5 W). Peak minute ventilation and oxygen uptake were not different during exercise with and without the mouthguard. The present study demonstrated that a custom-made mouthguard does not significantly affect or reduce maximum exercise performance of athletes.

Intérêt des protège-dents pour l’amélioration des performances physiques et sportives : revue de 50 ans de recherche médicale

“…À la demande des athlètes professionnels et des fédérations sportives, des études complémentaires ont été conduites pour déterminer si le port de protège-dents n'avait pas un impact négatif sur les performances sportives (gêne respiratoire, etc.) [11,12]. Or, une partie de ces études a mis en évidence une amélioration des performances des athlètes porteurs de certains protège-dents bien au-delà de la seule absence d'impact négatif recherché.…”

Effects of sport-specific training conditions on performance in high school field hockey players.

“…MGs were better after just four weeks of consistent use 13 . Recent research has found conflicting results regarding whether usage increases the acceptance of MGs.…”

“…Since then, MG usage rules have trickled through the ranks of high school and collegiate sports, with MGs becoming either recommended or required in more sports every year 9,10,11 . As such, it is required by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) that all field hockey players wear a MG during games 7,10,11,12,13 .…”

“…Stock and self-adapted MGs are purchased over the counter, whereas custom-made MGs are made from a dental mold by a dentist or orthodontist 14,15,16,17 . If not enforced, most high school athletes choose not to wear any type of MG during either practice or competition 13,18 . This is reportedly due to athletes claiming that mouthguards negatively affect their breathing and therefore performance, and also are uncomfortable and hinder communication 6,7,16,19 .…”

“…This style of MG was chosen based on previous research showing no physiological differences between using this style of MG and no MG, as well as due to ease of access and molding capabilities 6,11,13,14,18,20 . …”