A kinematic analysis on the immediate effects of occlusal splints in gait and running body sway patterns.

Objective: This study aims to determine whether changes in dental occlusion are correlated to body posture during walking and running.Methods: Fifteen healthy subjects were assessed by a prosthodontist and deemed asymptomatic. Analyses of gait and running were performed in three conditions, in random order: a) occlusal splint; b) placebo splint; and c) no splint. The occlusal splint used in this study positioned the mandible in a stable position. Kinematic data was collected using a 3D motion capture system.Results: Changes in dental occlusion induced by occlusal splints did not influence body sway during gait or running. No significant differences were found between any of the test conditions.Conclusion: Occlusal splints have no effect on body sway during gait or running. High inter-subject variability in kinematic parameters was found, which should be considered in future studies.

The effect of a controlled mandible position mouthguard on upper body strength and power in trained rugby athletes - A randomized within subject study.

BACKGROUND: It is widely accepted that mouthguards are effective for injury protection in sports. However, findings on the effects of mouthguards in strength and power production remains controversial. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether controlled-mandible position mouthguards influence strength and power production in well trained athletes. METHODS: Twenty-two male amateur rugby players (25 ± 3.84 yrs; 1.92 ± 0.07 m; 93.91 ± 11.99 kg) volunteered for this study. Every participant performed an 1RM bench press test (113.20 ± 16.83 kg) to determine his maximal strength. In a randomized order, a ballistic bench press using 40% of the obtained 1RM (44.93 ± 6.76 Kg) was performed in a guided bar attached to a linear position transducer (LPT) for the following conditions: a) no mouthguard (CON); b) controlled mouthguard (MCM - jaw in centric relation); c) non-controlled mouthguard (NCM) and d) occlusal splint (OS). Vertical dimension of occlusion was also assessed for each of the testing conditions. RESULTS: Athletes using a controlled mouthguard demonstrate a significant (p < 0.05) higher peak acceleration and peak force than those using no mouthguard. Additionally, when analysing the results of vertical dimension of occlusion, a significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed between controlled mouthguard and the other tested conditions. CONCLUSION: Controlled mouthguards enhance peak force and peak acceleration in the ballistic bench press exercise without negatively affecting any other measure assessed in this study. We speculate that this is possibly due to an increased stability of temporomandibular joint.

A systematic review on the effects of occlusal splint therapy on muscle strength.

Objective: The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review on the effectiveness of occlusal splints for improving muscle strength. Occlusal splints are oral appliances that cause joint stabilization. Methods: A mix of medical and sports science terms was used to perform the search on several databases (Web of Science, Science Direct, SPORT Discus, PubMed, and Springer). Results: Twelve studies were reviewed, and their analysis indicates a trend pointing toward a limited interaction between the use of occlusal splints and improved muscle strength. Discussion: The extent of occlusal splints' impact on muscle strength is presently unknown. At this stage, there is no general agreement as to whether occlusal splints can be used as ergogenic aids. The number of studies on this specific topic and their different experimental designs precludes drawing more definite conclusions. Further research is warranted to elucidate possible changes resulting from occlusal splints during exercise.

Effects of occlusal splints on shoulder strength and activation.

Introduction: The use of oral appliances to enhance sports performance has been advocated by some authors, however, studies addressing the effectiveness of these strategies are inconclusive. Methods: Here we investigate the effects of dental occlusions on shoulder strength. Fourteen healthy male subjects (age = 21.67 ± 0.86 years) without temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder participated in this study. Isokinetic strength was evaluated in shoulder abduction/adduction and arm external/internal rotation tests. Three randomised conditions were assessed: (1) occlusal splint (OS), which repositioned the TMJ in centric relation; (2) placebo splint (PS); and (3) no-splint (N). The strength tests were performed at a speed of 60°/sec in concentric mode. Muscle activity was measured by surface electromyography (EMG) in the main muscles engaged in the movements. Results: Significant differences in peak torque between OS and both of the other experimental conditions were found in some of the analyzed variables. Moreover, there was significantly higher muscular EMG activation in the OS condition when compared to the other conditions for some of the tested muscles. These data suggest that splints may have a positive ergogenic effect on shoulder muscular strength in healthy male subjects. Conclusion: OS may provide an advantage for healthy subjects engaged in sports whereby shoulder and arm strength are important for performance. Key messages Occlusal splints in centric relation position have an ergogenic effect, by increasing strength and muscle activation on shoulder in healthy subjects. These results could have implications for sports or other physical activities were arm and shoulder strength are important.

Effects of Dental Occlusion on Body Sway, Upper Body Muscle Activity and Shooting Performance in Pistol Shooters.

Occlusal splints, to some extent, have been related to reduced body sway in a static position and increased muscle activity in the upper limbs. However, how dental occlusion status affects sports performance remains unclear. Here, we investigated whether occlusal splints that reposition the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) influenced body posture, muscle activity, and performance in 10-meter pistol shooters. Thirteen national-level male shooters (age = 38.8 ± 10.9 yrs) were recruited for this study, and cleared of any cervical pathology. An occlusal splint (OS) and a placebo splint (PS) were fabricated for each of the subjects, with the mandibular and maxillary position verified by an expert dentist, with the aid of an adjustable articulator. Surface electromyography (EMG) was assessed in the upper limb that holds the pistol while the subjects were standing on a force platform. Subjects performed two series of 10 shots for each of the three experimental conditions (OS, PS, N (no splint)) in randomized order, with the mandible in a rest position. Results revealed similar centre of pressure (COP) parameters in all conditions, despite a reduction in the average oscillation area caused by the OS. There were also no significant differences in EMG activity between conditions in the five upper limb muscles monitored. Consistent with this, shooting performance was similar in all conditions, despite a reduction in shot dispersion in subjects using OS. Thus, changes in dental occlusion status induced by OS do not affect body posture, upper limb EMG muscle activity, or shot performance in healthy male pistol shooters.