Effect of Mouthguard Use on Metabolic and Cardiorespiratory Responses to Aerobic Exercise in Males

Abstract

ABSTRACTPurpose: This study investigated the physiological effects of wearing a mouthguard during submaximal treadmill exercise. Method: Twenty-four recreationally active males (Mage = 21.3 ± 2.4 years, Mheight = 1.78 ± 0.06 m, Mweight = 81.9 ± 10.6 kg, Mbody mass index = 25.8 ± 3.4 kg·m−2) performed incremental, continuous exercise at 2, 4, 6, and 8 mph (3.2, 6.4, 9.7, 12.9 kph) for 5 min at each speed on a motor-driven treadmill on 2 separate occasions in a randomized, crossover, counterbalanced design while wearing or not wearing a self-adaptable “boil and bite” mouthguard. Respiratory rate (RR), tidal volume (VT), ventilation (VE), oxygen consumption (VO2), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), and heart rate (HR) data were averaged during the last 60 s of each exercise stage; blood lactate (LA) was measured before exercise and 3 min and 10 min following exercise. Results: Repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed that mouthguard use failed to alter the response of RR, VT, VE, VO2, RER, and HR to treadmill exercise (p > .05), although each variable did increase in magnitude as a result of increasing treadmill speed (p < .001). Although increasing to above resting values at both 3 min and 10 min (p < .001) after cessation of exercise, LA levels also displayed no differences with mouthguard use (p > .05). Conclusion: Despite predictable increases in respiratory, metabolic, and cardiovascular variables in response to incremental exercise, the presence of a mouthguard failed to affect the magnitude or nature of these physiological responses.