Abstract
Recent reports suggest the use of mouthpieces may be beneficial at improving aerobic and anaerobic exercise performance. However, the mechanisms of these reported improvements have yet to be elucidated. The purpose of this study was to explore the possible mechanisms of improved performance using the ArmourBite® mouthpiece. Using a within subject randomized treatment design, 15 experienced resistance trained males (19–26 years of age) performed 6 sets of 10 repetitions of free weight back squats at 80% of 1RM with and without a mouthpiece. Blood samples were collected before exercise, after 3 sets (Mid), immediately post (Post), 30 min post (Post-30), 60 min post (Post-60) and 120 min post (Post-120) exercise. Samples were analyzed for lactate and ELISA was used to determine cortisol. Mouthpiece use resulted in more repetitions completed without assistance (54.36 ± 0.61 vs. 53.27 ± 0.79, p = 0.046) and fewer assisted repetitions (6.73 ± 0.79 vs. 5.64 ± 0.61 repetitions, p = 0.046) compared to the ...
Highlights
Mouthguard use during sport has been utilized as a method to prevent oral-facial injury, with a review of dental trauma literature citing participation in sport as being the greatest cause of dental injury (Glendor, 2009; Hughston, 1980)
Based on previous research it was hypothesized that the use of the ArmourBite® mouthpiece would decrease serum cortisol levels and lactate levels during heavy resistance exercise
Previous investigations of mouthpiece use during exercise have shown reductions in salivary cortisol levels (Garner, Dudgeon, Scheett, McDivitt, 2011; Garner & McDivitt, 2009b, 2015), lactate concentration (Garner & McDivitt, 2009a, 2009b, 2015), and changes in respiratory kinetics (Garner, 2015; Garner, Dudgeon, Scheett, & McDivitt, 2011). These results suggest the possible involvement of the two major stress axes: the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis (Garner et al, 2011) and subsequently possible involvement of the sympathetic-adrenal-medullary (SAM) axis (Garner, Dudgeon, McDivitt, 2011) due to mutual activation in the stress response (Chrousos, 2007; Fatouros et al, 2010; Tsigos & Chrousos, 2002; Vanltallie, 2002). This suggests that mouthpiece use can acutely impact neuroendocrine physiology, thereby impact substrate availability and utilization, and play a role in performance outcomes
Summary
Mouthguard use during sport has been utilized as a method to prevent oral-facial injury, with a review of dental trauma literature citing participation in sport as being the greatest cause of dental injury (Glendor, 2009; Hughston, 1980). The use of such appliances has been cited to improve athletic performance. Research in this area focused on the use of MORA devices (mandibular orthopedic repositioning appliance) stated to improve performance along with the protection of teeth (Fonder, 1976). Stenger, and Grunwaldt found improvements in strength with MORA devices in professional football players, with Grunwaldt finding an 8–11% improvement in Cybex muscle testing in these athletes with the oral appliance (Smith, 1982; Stenger, 1977). In testing college athletes, researchers were unable to detect differences in strength with the use of an oral appliance (Welch, Edington, & Ritter, 1986; Yates, Koen, Semenick, & Kuftinec, 1984). Research in the area of mouthpiece use during exercise, and measurement of these parameters, remained stagnant until the early 2000s when interest in this topic renewed partly due to the subjective feedback provided by athletes wearing mouthpieces designed by Shock Doctor, Bite Tech and Makkar Athletic; mouthguard companies that marketed the effectiveness of mouthguard use during exercise for performance enhancement
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