Effects of a Thermoformable Mouthguard on Cervical Posture and Running Performance in Non-professional Runners

Effects of a Thermoformable Mouthguard on Cervical Posture and Running Performance in Non-professional Runners : A Prospective Within-subject Pilot Study

The stomatognathic system is functionally connected to the overall body system. Occlusal modification using intraoral devices may therefore influence postural alignment and physiological responses during exercise. However, evidence regarding the combined effects of mouthguard use on cervical posture and running performance remains limited. This study evaluates the effects of a thermoformable mouthguard on craniovertebral angle, heart rate, respiratory rate and running performance in non-professional runners.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Heart Rate; Posture; Craniovertebral Angle; Occlusal Mouthguards
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Thermoformable mouthguard

Detailed Description

A prospective within-subject pilot study was conducted in nine non-professional runners. Each participant was assessed under two conditions : natural occlusion and thermoformable mouthguard. Static cervical posture was evaluated using the craniovertebral angle. Running performance was assessed recording heart rate, respiratory rate and running pace.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 10
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

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

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion criteria:

• Students from Universidad Europea de Valencia enrolled in dentistry and physiotherapy programs, aged between 18 and 25 years
• Regularly engaged in running training, with at least one year of experience
• Already participated in an official half marathon
• Good general health status
• Willingness to comply with the study protocol and provision of written informed consent prior to participation

Exclusion criteria:

• Subjects reporting a history of muscular injuries, active inflammatory or infectious processes in the last 6 months
• Known cardiovascular diseases
• Pregnancy
• Use of orthopedic shoe insoles
• Use of mouthguard during running

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1. Recruitment

   • Participants assessed for eligibility (n = 17)
   • Excluded (n = 8):
   • Declined participation due to lack of time (n = 3)
   • Did not meet the inclusion criteria (n = 5)

2. Allocation and follow-up

   • Participants included in the study (n = 9)
   • Assigned to both conditions (within-subject design):
   • Natural occlusion condition (n = 9)
   • Thermoformable mouthguard condition (n = 9)
   • Completed follow-up (n = 9)
3. Analysis - Participants included in the final analysis (n = 9)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Screening
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: Voluntarily participation; Participants were recruited by convenience sampling among eligible students enrolled in dentistry and physiotherapy programmes at the Universidad Europea de Valencia between October and November 2025. All participants were invited to participate voluntarily and were included only after meeting the eligibility criteria and providing written informed consent.	Other: Thermoformable mouthguard; The intervention consisted of a thermoformable mouthguard individually adapted to each participant. The device used was the Domyos Adult Bi-Material Mouthguard (Decathlon, France), composed of high-density ethylene-vinyl acetate and styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Effects on cervical posture (CVA)	The CVA served as the primary postural variable, reflecting head and cervical alignment. It was calculated from standardized photographs using the APECS system, based on the angle between a horizontal cervical reference line and a line extending from the tragion to the same point. Lower CVA values indicate a forward head posture.	Measurements were taken during the training sessions (Day 1)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Heart Rate	It was recorded during the running test to evaluate the cardiovascular response under each occlusal condition.	Measurements were taken during the training sessions (Day 1)

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Respiratory rate	It was measured to assess whether the mouthguard influenced ventilatory patterns during running.	Measurements were taken during the training sessions (Day 1)
Running Speed	Speed was monitored to quantify running performance and compare both occlusal conditions	Measurementes were taken during the training sessions (Day 1)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universidad Europea de Valencia
• Investigators: Study Director: Maria del Carmen Ferrer Serena, Universidad Europea de Valencia

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 18, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): May 25, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 16, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 16, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): July 21, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 27, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 23, 2026
• Last Verified: July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Posture; Craniovertebral angle; Mouthguard
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Poisoning; Bites and Stings
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2024-520/1

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