Effect of an Occlusal Splint in Swimming Performance

Effect of a Customized Occlusal Splint on Athletic Performance in Master Swimmers: A Randomized Pilot Clinical Trial

Optimizing sports performance depends on the interaction of physiological, biomechanical, and neuromuscular factors. In recent years, interest has increased in the relationship between stomatognathic function and athletic performance, particularly regarding the possible role of occlusal splints in neuromuscular activation. This study evaluated the effect of a customized occlusal splint on the increase of Concurrent Activation Potentiation.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: the Aim of This Study Was to Evaluate the Effect of a Custom Occlusal Splint on Swimming Performance, Stroke Efficiency, and Heart Rate in Master Swimmers; Athletic Performance and the Impact on Performance Factors
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: occlusal splint

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 20
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Spain
  • Valencia, Spain, 46003
    • Universidad Europea de Valencia

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

To be eligible for inclusion, participants had to be between 20 and 40 years of age, actively participating in regular swimming training, free from acute or chronic injuries, and willing to comply with the study protocol. Exclusion criteria included use of performance-enhancing substances, presence of systemic diseases, current use of medication affecting performance, active orthodontic appliances, temporomandibular joint disorders, pregnancy, or failure to complete the study protocol.

(It won't let me add the flowchart image, so I'll describe it below)

1. Participamos assessed for eligibility (n=24)
2. Excluded (n=4) 2.1 Did not Meet inclusion criteria (n=3) 2.2 Did not provide informed consent (n=1)
3. Randomized (n=20) 3.1 Intervention group (case) (n=10) 3.1.1 Lost to follow-up (n=0) 3.1.2 Analyzed (n=10) 3.2 Control group (n=10) 3.2.1 Lost to follow-up (n=0) 3.2.2 Analyzed (n=10)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Screening
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: intervention group, which used a customized occlusal splint	Other: occlusal splint; occlusal Splint
Other: control group, which continued training without a splint	Other: occlusal splint; occlusal Splint

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
swimming performance	swimming performance was quantified as pace in 100 meters and 50 meters freestyle, both measured in seconds with a digital stopwatch (SRUIS, ZSD013, France). For each participant and distance, three consecutive trials were recorded under standardized conditions, and averaged for statistical analysis	Measurements were taken during the training sessions, in day 1

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Stroke efficiency	Stroke efficiency was measured as the number of strokes per 25 meters, determined by direct observation and manual counting by two externals observers	Measurements were taken during the training sessions, in day 1

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Cardiovascular efficiency	Cardiovascular efficiency was assessed as maximum heart rate measured in beats per minute using a chest strap sensor (Garmin HRM-Pro-Plus), synchronized with a receiver unit (Garmin Forerunner 255s)	Measurements were taken during the training sessions, in day 1
Maximum heart rate	Maximum heart rate was operationally defined as the highest value recorded during maximal effort testing	Measurements were taken during the training sessions, in day 1

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universidad Europea de Valencia

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): May 24, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 23, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 7, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): July 13, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 13, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 7, 2026
• Last Verified: July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: athletic performance and the impact on performance factors
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Orthopedic Equipment; Surgical Equipment; Equipment and Supplies; Orthotic Devices; Occlusal Splints
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2024-520

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

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