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Published on: February 2, 2018
Physiological effects of wearing mouthguards.
1Division of Physical Therapy, University of Alabama, Birmingham.
British Journal of Sports Medicine
|December 1, 1991
Summary
Mouthguards used in sports reduce lung function but may improve exercise performance by altering breathing patterns. This study quanties the physiological effects of wearing different mouthguards during exercise.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Exercise Physiology
- Respiratory Physiology
Background:
- Mouthguards are essential for dental protection in contact sports.
- Players report breathing and speech difficulties with mouthguards.
- Quantifiable data on the physiological effects of mouthguards are lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure the ventilatory and gas exchange effects of wearing mouthguards.
- To assess the impact of different mouthguard types on respiratory function and exercise capacity.
Main Methods:
- Ten men and seven women performed respiratory tests (FEV1, PEF) and cycle ergometer exercise (VO2).
- Measurements were taken with no mouthguard and with three different over-the-counter mouthguards.
- Statistical analysis used ANOVA for repeated measures.
Main Results:
- Mouthguard use significantly reduced forced expiratory volume at 1 second (FEV1) and peak expiratory flow (PEF).
- Reductions in FEV1 ranged from 8% to 14%, and PEF from 7% to 15.8%.
- Oxygen consumption (VO2) was not significantly affected at low workloads but decreased significantly at heavy workloads.
Conclusions:
- Mouthguards restrict airflow but may enhance exercise tolerance.
- The observed reduction in VO2 during heavy exercise might be due to a 'pursed-lip' breathing effect.
- Mouthguards appear beneficial for prolonged exercise by improving ventilation and economy despite perceived discomfort.
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