Craniovertebral Angle, Heart Rate, Occlusal Mouthguards, Posture
Conditions
Keywords
Mouthguard, Posture, Craniovertebral angle
Brief summary
The stomatognathic system is functionally connected to the overall body system. Occlusal modification using intraoral devices may therefore influence postural alignment and physiological responses during exercise. However, evidence regarding the combined effects of mouthguard use on cervical posture and running performance remains limited. This study evaluates the effects of a thermoformable mouthguard on craniovertebral angle, heart rate, respiratory rate and running performance in non-professional runners.
Detailed description
A prospective within-subject pilot study was conducted in nine non-professional runners. Each participant was assessed under two conditions : natural occlusion and thermoformable mouthguard. Static cervical posture was evaluated using the craniovertebral angle. Running performance was assessed recording heart rate, respiratory rate and running pace.
Interventions
OTHERThermoformable mouthguard
The intervention consisted of a thermoformable mouthguard individually adapted to each participant. The device used was the Domyos Adult Bi-Material Mouthguard (Decathlon, France), composed of high-density ethylene-vinyl acetate and styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene.
Sponsors
Universidad Europea de Valencia
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
SCREENING
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
A prospective within-subject pilot study was conducted in nine non-professional runners enrolled at the Universidad Europea de Valencia, Spain. Each participant was assessed under two conditions : natural occlusion and thermoformable mouthguard. Static cervical posture was evaluated using the craniovertebral angle measured from standardized lateral photographs with the APECS system. Running performance was assessed during four 5-km running sessions per condition recording heart rate, respiratory rate and running pace. Non-parametric statistical methods were performed, and associations between changes in posture and performance were explored using Spearman correlation coefficients.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 25 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Students from Universidad Europea de Valencia enrolled in dentistry and physiotherapy programs, aged between 18 and 25 years * Regularly engaged in running training, with at least one year of experience * Already participated in an official half marathon * Good general health status * Willingness to comply with the study protocol and provision of written informed consent prior to participation
Exclusion criteria
* Subjects reporting a history of muscular injuries, active inflammatory or infectious processes in the last 6 months * Known cardiovascular diseases * Pregnancy * Use of orthopedic shoe insoles * Use of mouthguard during running As I am unable to upload the flow chart image, I have provided its content in text format below. 1. Recruitment * Participants assessed for eligibility (n = 17) * Excluded (n = 8): * Declined participation due to lack of time (n = 3) * Did not meet the inclusion criteria (n = 5) 2. Allocation and follow-up * Participants included in the study (n = 9) * Assigned to both conditions (within-subject design): * Natural occlusion condition (n = 9) * Thermoformable mouthguard condition (n = 9) * Completed follow-up (n = 9) 3. Analysis - Participants included in the final analysis (n = 9)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Effects on cervical posture (CVA) | Measurements were taken during the training sessions (Day 1) | The CVA served as the primary postural variable, reflecting head and cervical alignment. It was calculated from standardized photographs using the APECS system, based on the angle between a horizontal cervical reference line and a line extending from the tragion to the same point. Lower CVA values indicate a forward head posture. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Heart Rate | Measurements were taken during the training sessions (Day 1) | It was recorded during the running test to evaluate the cardiovascular response under each occlusal condition. |
Countries
Spain
Contacts
STUDY_DIRECTORMaria del Carmen Ferrer Serena
Universidad Europea de Valencia
Outcome results
None listed