Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 1, 2026
Use of the Operant Orofacial Pain Assessment Device OPAD to Measure Changes in Nociceptive Behavior
Published on: June 10, 2013
Effect of physical activity level on orthodontic pain perception and analgesic consumption in adolescents
Satpal S Sandhu1, Jasleen Sandhu2
1Professor, Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Genesis Institute of Dental Sciences and Research, Ferozepur, Punjab, India.
Introduction:
The objective of this study was to assess the effect of baseline physical activity level on orthodontic pain perception and analgesic consumption after orthodontic separator placement in adolescents.
Methods:
One hundred fifty participants (mean age, 14.5 years; SD, 1.7 years; 73 girls, 77 boys) were included in this longitudinal study. The physical activity questionnaire was used to assess their baseline physical activity levels. Once participants completed the questionnaire, orthodontic separators were placed at the mesial and distal contact points of the maxillary and mandibular first molars. A 100-mm visual analog scale was used for pain assessment. Analgesic consumption was recorded as a binary response (yes/no). Both outcomes were assessed at 1 baseline time point and 7 follow-up time points (bedtime on days 1 to 7). A multilevel mixed-effect model analysis approach was used to analyze the longitudinal data.
Results:
Of the 150 participants in the study, data from 137 were included in the analysis (mean age, 14.4 years; SD, 1.7 years; 65 girls, 72 boys). Compared with the low-activity group (84 participants; 61.3%), the high-activity group (53 participants; 38.7%) experienced significantly less pain (mean estimate, -8.958; P = 0.0114; 95% confidence interval, -15.868 to -2.049) and consumed fewer analgesics (odds ratio, 0.443; P <0.0318; 95% confidence interval, 0.199 to 0.786) during the study period.
Conclusions:
Physical activity has a significant influence on orthodontic pain perception and analgesic consumption in adolescents undergoing orthodontic treatment. Further research is needed on this topic to elucidate the association between physical activity and orthodontic pain.
