Influence of occlusal thickness of custom-made mouthguards on ventilatory parameters, rate of perceived exertion, and peak velocity attained during an incremental test

• Published in: Kinesiology (Zagreb, Croatia) Vol. 51; no. 2; pp. 246 - 252
• Main Authors: Gesser Raimundo, João Antônio, Pires, Karina Maria, Loch Padilha, Ana Clara, Penteado, Rafael, Domingos Lisbôa, Felipe, Machado Ribeiro, Dayane, Caputo, Fabrizio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Zagreb Sveuciliste U Zagrebu 01-12-2019; Sveuciliste u Zagrebu, Kinezioloski Fakultet
• Subjects: Amateur sports; Athletes; Running; Safety equipment; Sports injuries; Ventilation; Brazil
• ISSN: 1331-1441; 1848-638X
• DOI: 10.26582/k.51.2.5

Custom-made mouthguards are used to prevent orofacial injuries arising
from falls and knocks. It has been observed that thicker custom-made
mouthguards transmit less force to the mouth owing to their higher energy
absorption capacity. However, it is believed that thicker custom-made
mouthguards can alter ventilation during exercise because of the higher
resistance or restriction of oral airflow. The purpose of this study was to investigate
if a thicker custom-made mouthguard (occlusal thickness of 5 mm; 5MG) alters
ventilatory parameters, rate of perceived exertion (RPE), and peak velocity
during an incremental test relative to a thinner custom-made mouthguard
(occlusal thickness of 3 mm; 3MG) and no mouthguard (NoMG). Eleven male amateur
contact team sports players completed three running incremental tests on different
days. Each test was performed with either 3MG, 5MG, or without a mouthguard. The
peak velocity during the incremental test was similar between the different
conditions (14.9±0.6, 14.9±0.7, and 14.7±0.9 km
·
h-1 for NoMG,
3MG, and 5MG, respectively). Furthermore, no differences were found in the peaks
of pulmonary oxygen uptake, minute ventilation and respiratory frequency, or
second ventilatory threshold. RPE was higher when wearing 5MG than when running
without a mouthguard only at the 12.5 km
·
h-1 stage (P=.03). These
data indicate that wearing custom-made mouthguards with occlusal thicknesses
between 3 mm and 5 mm does not alter ventilatory parameters at the end of an incremental
test. Thus, custom-made mouthguards with an occlusal thickness of 5 mm should
be preferred owing to their greater protection capacity.