Effect of an Occlusal Splint in Swimming Performance

Effect of a Customized Occlusal Splint on Athletic Performance in Master Swimmers: A Randomized Pilot Clinical Trial

Optimizing sports performance depends on the interaction of physiological, biomechanical, and neuromuscular factors. In recent years, interest has increased in the relationship between stomatognathic function and athletic performance, particularly regarding the possible role of occlusal splints in neuromuscular activation. This study evaluated the effect of a customized occlusal splint on the increase of Concurrent Activation Potentiation.

To be eligible for inclusion, participants had to be between 20 and 40 years of age, actively participating in regular swimming training, free from acute or chronic injuries, and willing to comply with the study protocol. Exclusion criteria included use of performance-enhancing substances, presence of systemic diseases, current use of medication affecting performance, active orthodontic appliances, temporomandibular joint disorders, pregnancy, or failure to complete the study protocol.

(It won't let me add the flowchart image, so I'll describe it below)

1. Participamos assessed for eligibility (n=24)
2. Excluded (n=4) 2.1 Did not Meet inclusion criteria (n=3) 2.2 Did not provide informed consent (n=1)
3. Randomized (n=20) 3.1 Intervention group (case) (n=10) 3.1.1 Lost to follow-up (n=0) 3.1.2 Analyzed (n=10) 3.2 Control group (n=10) 3.2.1 Lost to follow-up (n=0) 3.2.2 Analyzed (n=10)