Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of laminate mouth guard wearing on balance function, which has been known to be essential to sports participation.
Methods: Gravity fluctuation in the upright posture was determined using the High-Reso Mat System under two conditions: a position of slight occlusal contact with wearing of a laminate mouth guard, and the intercuspal position without wearing the laminate mouth guard. Measurement was made with regard to the standard deviation of lateral components (X-S.D.) and that of anterior-posterior components (Y-S.D.), and also the migration distance of center of gravity. Differences between the two conditions were statistically analyzed using Wilcoxon signed ranks test.
Results: The respective mean values of X-S.D., Y-S.D., and migration distance of center of gravity were 0.21±0.11cm, 0.11±0.05cm, and 10.34±4.25cm in the condition with wearing the laminate mouth guard, and 0.21±0.12cm, 0.10±0.05cm, and 11.74±4.43cm without the laminate mouth guard. Statistical testing revealed no significant differences between the two conditions for any of the measurement items.
Conclusions: These results suggest that static balance functions essential to sports participation are not affected by wearing a laminate mouth guard.
