Neuromuscular Function and Performance in Athletes With or Without Bruxism (CHAINSPORT)

Is Bruxism Associated With Altered Systemic Neuromuscular Function and Increased Risk of Muscular Injury ?

The aim of this study is to evaluate the associations between bruxism and neuromuscular function, as well as athletic performance, in a population of amateur athletes. Particular attention will be paid to musculoskeletal disorders associated with bruxism, particularly in the shoulder. Participants' history of sports injuries will also be recorded. To control for the effect of potential confounding variables, levels of stress, anxiety, and mood, as well as sleep quality, will be systematically measured using validated questionnaires.

Study Overview

• Status: Enrolling by invitation
• Conditions: Bruxism

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 120

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Belgium
  • Liège, Belgium, 4020
    • University of Liege

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Amateur athletes from the Province of Liège

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Practices swimming or handball 3 to 8 hours per week.
• Has the cognitive/mental capacity to take part in this study.
• Fluent in the language of the survey (French).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current orthodontic treatment or treatment completed within the last 2 months.
• Shoulder and/or cervical spine injury or surgery within the past 6 months.
• Current cessation or limitation of sports activity due to shoulder and/or cervical symptoms at the time of participation.
• Any pathology or history of trauma to the dominant hand resulting in reduced grip strength.
• Any clinically manifest infectious episode at the time of participation.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
athlete; amateur athletes in the Province of Liège, aged between 18 and 35

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Muscular Tone	Myotonometry will be performed with the MyotonPRO device, a digital palpation device, on the masseter, sternocleidomastoid, upper trapezius, erector spinae and quadriceps muscles at rest, The device gives : F - Natural Oscillation Frequency [Hz], characterizing Tone or Tension (higher values = higher tension)	Baseline
Dynamic Stiffness	Myotonometry will be performed with the MyotonPRO device, a digital palpation device, on the masseter, sternocleidomastoid, upper trapezius, erector spinae and quadriceps muscles at rest, The device gives : S - Dynamic Stiffness [N/m] (This biophysical parameter reflects the muscle's ability to resist contractions or external stresses to deformation, it can increased with exercice or pain)	Baseline
Muscular elasticity	Myotonometry will be performed with the MyotonPRO device, a digital palpation device, on the masseter, sternocleidomastoid, upper trapezius, erector spinae and quadriceps muscles at rest, The device gives parameter of the neuromuscular function: D - Logarithmic Decrement [relative unit], characterizing Elasticity (Higher values = lower elasticity)	Baseline
Muscular Mechanical Stress Relaxation Time	Myotonometry will be performed with the MyotonPRO device, a digital palpation device, on the masseter, sternocleidomastoid, upper trapezius, erector spinae and quadriceps muscles at rest, The device gives : R - Mechanical Stress Relaxation Time [ms] (low value correspond to fast tissue recovers its shape)	Baseline
Muscular Creep	Myotonometry will be performed with the MyotonPRO device, a digital palpation device, on the masseter, sternocleidomastoid, upper trapezius, erector spinae and quadriceps muscles at rest, The device gives : C - Ratio of Relaxation and Deformation time [relative unit], characterizing Creep (Higher Creep Value: Indicates higher fluidity, meaning the muscle is less rigid)	Baseline
Maximal grip strength test	Will be evaluated with the Eforto device, which is the first validated device to measure maximal grip strength test. One value in kPa. Higher values indicate higher muscle strength.	Baseline
Muscle fatigue	Will be evaluated with the Eforto device, which is the first validated device to measure muscle fatigability (fatigue resistance test, which was shown to reflect the level of both muscle energy and metabolism, neuromuscular function, and immune and stress responses). One value obtained, in seconds. Cut-off normative values in healthy 25-35 year-old male and female people are available, and lower values indicate increased muscle fatigability.	Baseline
Trapeze isometric force	Will be evaluated with dynamometer, higher values (unit is N) meaning higher muscular isometric force	Baseline
Muscular Tone	Myotonometry will be performed with the MyotonPRO device, a digital palpation device, on the masseter, sternocleidomastoid, upper trapezius, erector spinae and quadriceps muscles at rest, The device gives : F - Natural Oscillation Frequency [Hz], characterizing Tone or Tension (higher values = higher tension)	15-30 minutes after training
Dynamic Stiffness	Myotonometry will be performed with the MyotonPRO device, a digital palpation device, on the masseter, sternocleidomastoid, upper trapezius, erector spinae and quadriceps muscles at rest, The device gives : S - Dynamic Stiffness [N/m] (This biophysical parameter reflects the muscle's ability to resist contractions or external stresses to deformation, it can increased with exercice or pain)	15-30 minutes after training
Muscular elasticity	Myotonometry will be performed with the MyotonPRO device, a digital palpation device, on the masseter, sternocleidomastoid, upper trapezius, erector spinae and quadriceps muscles at rest, The device gives parameter of the neuromuscular function: D - Logarithmic Decrement [relative unit], characterizing Elasticity (Higher values = lower elasticity)	15-30 minutes after training
Muscular Mechanical Stress Relaxation Time	Myotonometry will be performed with the MyotonPRO device, a digital palpation device, on the masseter, sternocleidomastoid, upper trapezius, erector spinae and quadriceps muscles at rest, The device gives : R - Mechanical Stress Relaxation Time [ms] (low value correspond to fast tissue recovers its shape)	15-30 minutes after training
Muscular Creep	Myotonometry will be performed with the MyotonPRO device, a digital palpation device, on the masseter, sternocleidomastoid, upper trapezius, erector spinae and quadriceps muscles at rest, The device gives : C - Ratio of Relaxation and Deformation time [relative unit], characterizing Creep (Higher Creep Value: Indicates higher fluidity, meaning the muscle is less rigid)	15-30 minutes after training

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Shoulder - passive range of motion	Measurement of passive range of motion in internal and external rotation of the shoulder using a goniometer (in degrees), with the arm abducted 90° in the frontal plane. The higher values correspond to the higher passive range of motion	Baseline
Cervical spine mobility	Cervical spine mobility (flexion, extension, lateral flexion to the right and left, and rotation to the right and left). Assessment using a ordinal scale with values : Good, limited, very limited, from better to worse outcomes.	Baseline
Athletic performance	Athletic performance will be assessed and measured at the start of training and after the warm-up using a test specific to each sport. For swimmers, a 50-meter crawl at maximum speed will be timed. For handball players, a T-test will be conducted and measured using photoelectric sensors. This test evaluates speed and accuracy on a course of cones arranged in a T-shape with specific distances between the cones (spaced 5 to 10 meters apart). The lower values correspond to the better athletic performance.	Baseline
History of sports injuries	Obtained through questioning following International Olympic Committee guidelines. Descriptive outcome. Score severity according to the number and the severity of the injuries.	Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Mainjot Amélie

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): August 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 9, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 21, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): April 29, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 29, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 21, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Stomatognathic Diseases; Tooth Diseases; Behavior; Habits; Bruxism
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2026/241

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No