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Impact of high-intensity sports practice on stomatognathic system function : an observational study

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Bibliographic Details
Summary:Background: Physical activity improves quality of life, but competitive sports emphasize performance, leading to intense training and restrictive diets that increase injury risk. This affects the stomatognathic system, underscoring the role of sports dentistry in preventing injuries and orofacial functional changes. This observational study analyzed the stomatognathic system’s functionality in male high-intensity athletes (n = 18) compared to a sedentary group (n = 18). Methods: Functional parameters were analyzed: electromyographic activity during mandibular tasks, masseter and temporal muscles thickness, and molar bite force. Results: Student’s t-test was used for analysis. At mandibular rest, male high-performance athletes showed lower electromyographic activity in the right and left masseter muscles, suggesting adaptation to training. During maximum voluntary contraction, activity was higher in the temporal and masseter muscles, especially in the left masseter, indicating hypertrophy. Electromyographic activity increased during protrusion and lateral movements, particularly in the masseter and temporal muscles, demonstrating a greater functional efficiency group of athletes. They also exhibited greater masseter muscle thickness and thinner temporal muscle thickness, with a significant difference in the right masseter muscle at rest. The group of athletes showed greater molar bite force, with significant differences, indicating greater muscle capacity. Conclusions: Sports practice promotes adaptations in the stomatognathic system, improving its functionality.
Main Authors:Fioco, Evandro Marianetti
Other Authors:Palinkas, Marcelo; Barbosa, Natália de Moraes; Verri, Edson Donizetti; Ferreira, Luciano Maia Alves; Lattaro, Danilo Henrique; Silva, Gabriella Simi Gariba; Siéssere, Selma; Regalo, Simone Cecilio Hallak
Subject:athletes masticatory muscles electromyography ultrasonography gnathodynamometry
Year:2025
Country:Portugal
Document type:contribution to journal
Access type:open access
Associated institution:Egas Moniz - Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, CRL
Language:English
Origin:Egas Moniz - Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, CRL
Description
Summary:Background: Physical activity improves quality of life, but competitive sports emphasize performance, leading to intense training and restrictive diets that increase injury risk. This affects the stomatognathic system, underscoring the role of sports dentistry in preventing injuries and orofacial functional changes. This observational study analyzed the stomatognathic system’s functionality in male high-intensity athletes (n = 18) compared to a sedentary group (n = 18). Methods: Functional parameters were analyzed: electromyographic activity during mandibular tasks, masseter and temporal muscles thickness, and molar bite force. Results: Student’s t-test was used for analysis. At mandibular rest, male high-performance athletes showed lower electromyographic activity in the right and left masseter muscles, suggesting adaptation to training. During maximum voluntary contraction, activity was higher in the temporal and masseter muscles, especially in the left masseter, indicating hypertrophy. Electromyographic activity increased during protrusion and lateral movements, particularly in the masseter and temporal muscles, demonstrating a greater functional efficiency group of athletes. They also exhibited greater masseter muscle thickness and thinner temporal muscle thickness, with a significant difference in the right masseter muscle at rest. The group of athletes showed greater molar bite force, with significant differences, indicating greater muscle capacity. Conclusions: Sports practice promotes adaptations in the stomatognathic system, improving its functionality.