Over-the-counter performance enhancing mouthguards are unable to decrease blood lactate and improve power output...

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Mouthguards are crucial for preventing maxillofacial injuries in contact sports.
• Emerging research suggests mouthguards may enhance athletic performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the Under Armour ArmourBite (UAAB) mouthguard's effect on blood lactate concentration and anaerobic power.
• To compare UAAB performance against a generic over-the-counter mouthguard and no mouthguard during anaerobic testing.

Main Methods:

• Seventeen recreationally active males participated in the study.
• Participants underwent the 30-second Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT) under three conditions: UAAB, OTC, and no mouthguard.
• Blood lactate concentration and power output were measured.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in blood lactate concentration were observed immediately or 5 minutes post-test across all conditions.
• Peak, relative, and average power, as well as the fatigue index during the WAnT, showed no significant variations.
• The UAAB mouthguard did not demonstrate any improvement in anaerobic performance.

Conclusions:

• The tested UAAB mouthguard was ineffective in enhancing anaerobic athletic performance.
• Potential performance benefits from mouthguards might require custom-fit, more expensive dental devices.