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Teeth Clenching Improves Selective Response and Shortens Reaction Time.
Nao Sugai1, Ryo Hirabayashi1, Yoshiyuki Okada2
1Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan; and.
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
|May 29, 2026
Summary
Teeth clenching, especially moderate to maximal, significantly improves reaction time and performance in sports and daily tasks. However, clenching imbalance may limit these benefits, emphasizing the need for balanced clenching strategies.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Neuroscience
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Optimal athletic performance relies on rapid decision-making and reaction times.
- Teeth clenching is known to enhance muscle activity and cognitive function.
- Potential negative impacts of imbalanced clenching on performance require investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of teeth clenching on reaction time.
- To examine the influence of clenching balance on reaction time improvements.
- To assess how different clenching intensities affect motor output and cognitive processing.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-two right-handed subjects performed a forward stepping task under three conditions: no clenching, moderate clenching, and maximal clenching.
- Reaction time was measured via soleus muscle (Sol) activity, including reaction time, release time, and grounding time.
- Subjects were categorized based on clenching balance (balanced vs. imbalanced).
Main Results:
- Moderate and maximal teeth clenching significantly shortened Sol reaction, release, and grounding times compared to no clenching.
- Subjects with balanced clenching showed significant improvements in all reaction time measures.
- Clenching imbalance resulted in improvements only in Sol reaction time, with a positive correlation between imbalance and reduced reaction time benefits.
Conclusions:
- Teeth clenching enhances spinal excitability and cognitive performance, potentially improving reaction ability.
- Balanced teeth clenching maximizes benefits for reaction time and motor performance.
- Clenching imbalance can mitigate the positive effects of teeth clenching, underscoring the importance of clenching balance in performance optimization.
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