title: The effects of mouthguards on the athletic ability of professional golfers.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of stabilization splints and mouthguards on the athletic ability of professional golfers. For this study, eight professional golfers with a mean age of 20.5 were selected. These participants performed four trials of 10 driver swings and 10 putts with or without a stabilization splint (control group) or mouthguard. For the 4th trial, the splints were adjusted using a simple blind test so that the participants were unaware of the unilateral molar contact. The drive distance, club head speed, initial ball speed, and putting accuracy were compared and analyzed before and after the application of equal bilateral molar occlusion. When the bilateral molar occlusion was applied using a mouthguard or stabilization splint, the club head speed and driving distance in the presence of the oral appliances were significantly increased compared with those without the presence of either appliance (P < 0.05). Alternatively, the initial ball speed and putting accuracy in the presence of these appliances were increased compared with those without the presence of an appliance; however, this effect was not statistically significant. When the mouthguards or stabilization splints were adjusted to result in unilateral molar occlusion, the club head speed and driving distance in the presence of the appliances were significantly decreased compared with those that were obtained without these appliances (P < 0.05). The initial ball speed and the putting accuracy were not affected by the use of the appliances. No difference was observed in the effectiveness of the stabilization splint and mouthguard when bilateral molar occlusion was performed. The occlusion stability that results from stabilization splints and mouthguards is thought to increase the club head speed and driving distance in professional golf players.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ahran
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pae
authors.forename: Ra-Kyung
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Kwantae
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Noh
authors.forename: Janghyun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paek
authors.forename: Kung-Rock
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Kwon
mesh_terms: D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D016302:Centric Relation; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006055:Golf / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007574:Jaw Relation Record / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D009064:Mouth Protectors; D017090:Occlusal Splints; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000737:chemistry; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014716:Vertical Dimension; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011145:Polyvinyls; C016438:ethylenevinylacetate copolymer