Mouth Protectors, Quality of Life
Conditions
Brief summary
This study assessed the influence of a reduction of the palate extension of a custom-made mouthguard on the degree of satisfaction of elite water polo players. Eighteen water polo players wore a custom-made conventional mouthguard or a reduced palate extension mouthguard during the training sessions and for competing for two weeks. The sequence was randomized to obtain one-half of the participants started the first week wearing the conventional mouthguard, and the other half wearing the shortened mouthguard. The participants rated the degree of discomfort in reference to speech, breathing, swallowing, nauseas/vomiting, pressure/pain, loosening, aesthetics, and athletic performance, in a 10-point scale, considering 0 no discomfort and 10 maximum discomfort. After each session, players also rated the perception of protection and the degree of satisfaction in a 10-point scale, considering 0 no protection/satisfaction and 10 maximum protection/satisfaction.
Detailed description
This crossover intervention study aimed to assess the influence of a reduction of the palate extension of a custom-made mouthguard on the degree of satisfaction of elite water polo players. Eighteen water polo players participated in this study. Two different custom-made mouthguards were made, a conventional one and a reduced palate extension mouthguard. They wore them during the training sessions and for competing one type of mouthguard for the first and fourth week and the other type of mouthguard for the second and third week. The sequence was randomized to obtain one-half of the participants started the first week wearing the conventional mouthguard, and the other half wearing the shortened mouthguard. The participants rated the degree of discomfort or inconvenience in reference to speech, breathing, swallowing, nauseas/vomiting, pressure/pain, loosening, aesthetics, and athletic performance, in a 10-point scale, considering 0 no discomfort/inconvenience and 10 maximum discomfort/inconvenience. After each session, players also rated the perception of protection and the degree of satisfaction in a 10-point scale, considering 0 no protection/satisfaction and 10 maximum protection/satisfaction.
Interventions
DEVICEUse of conventional mouthguard
Use of a conventional custom-made mouthguard while playing water polo
DEVICEUse of shortened mouthguard
Use of a shortened custom-made mouthguard while playing water polo
Sponsors
University of Barcelona
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* water polo players playing in maximum Spanish category for the season 2017-2018 * Obtaining written informed consent for participating in the project (model consent form)
Exclusion criteria
* Players with dental caries, with periodontitis or with temporomandibular joint pain
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Degree of satisfaction with the mouthguard | Weeks 1-4 | Participant satisfaction was assessed by asking the question How satisfied are you with your mouthguard? using a 0-10 point scale, considering 0= totally dissatisfied and 10= totally satisfied. Players rated the mouthguard just after each training session or after each match. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Degree of interference on breathing while using the mouthguard | Weeks 1-4 | The degree of interference on breathing while using the mouthguard was assessed by asking the question How much do you think wearing the mouthguard interferes your ability to breath? using a 0-10 point scale (considering 0= Not at all to 10= very much). Players rated the mouthguard just after each training session or after each match. |
| Degree of interference on swallowing while using the mouthguard | Weeks 1-4 | The degree of interference on swallowing while using the mouthguard was assessed by asking the question How much do you think wearing the mouthguard interferes your ability to swallow? using a 0-10 point scale (considering 0= Not at all to 10= very much). Players rated the mouthguard just after each training session or after each match. |
| Degree of discomfort regarding the gag reflex while using the mouthguard | Weeks 1-4 | The degree of discomfort regarding the gag reflex while using the mouthguard was assessed by asking the question How much do you think wearing the mouthguard causes a gag reflex? using a 0-10 point scale (considering 0= Not at all to 10= very much). Players rated the mouthguard just after each training session or after each match. |
| Degree of discomfort because the mouthguard fits too tight | Weeks 1-4 | The degree of discomfort because the mouthguard fits too tight was assessed by asking the question How much do you think the mouthguard fits too tight? using a 0-10 point scale (considering 0= Not at all to 10= very much). Players rated the mouthguard just after each training session or after each match. |
| Degree of interference on speech while using the mouthguard | Weeks 1-4 | The degree of interference on speech while using the mouthguard was assessed by asking the question How much do you think wearing the mouthguard interferes your ability to speech? using a 0-10 point scale (considering 0= Not at all to 10= very much). Players rated the mouthguard just after each training session or after each match. |
| Degree of interference on aesthetics while using the mouthguard | Weeks 1-4 | The degree of interference on aesthetics while using the mouthguard was assessed by asking the question How much do you think wearing the mouthguard interferes on aesthetics? using a 0-10 point scale (considering 0= Not at all to 10= very much). Players rated the mouthguard just after each training session or after each match. |
| Degree of interference on athletic performance while using the mouthguard | Weeks 1-4 | The degree of interference on athletic performance while using the mouthguard was assessed by asking the question How much do you think wearing the mouthguard interferes athletic performance? using a 0-10 point scale (considering 0= Not at all to 10= very much). Players rated the mouthguard just after each training session or after each match. |
| Degree of protection with the mouthguard | Weeks 1-4 | The degree of protection perceived by the participant was assessed by asking the question How much do you feel protected when you are wearing the mouthguard? using a 0-10 point scale (considering 0= Not at all to 10= very much). Players rated the mouthguard just after each training session or after each match. |
| Degree of discomfort because the mouthguard fits too loose | Weeks 1-4 | The degree of discomfort because the mouthguard fits too loose was assessed by asking the question How much do you think the mouthguard fits too loose? using a 0-10 point scale (considering 0= Not at all to 10= very much). Players rated the mouthguard just after each training session or after each match. |
Countries
Spain
Outcome results
None listed