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Background: Current research relates jaw clenching to athletic performance, in terms of force and agility. However, the impact of jaw clenching on sports accuracy is unclear. Objectives: To analyse the impact of jaw position and chewing type on free‐throw accuracy and electromyographic (EMG) activity of masticatory muscles during free‐throws. Methods: Cross‐sectional study with 25 female basketball players aged 18–44. Each participant executed 18 free‐throws under three different jaw conditions: mandibular rest, maximum intercuspation, and with interdental cotton rolls, in randomised order. Results: Chewing type and jaw position were not associated with shooting accuracy (p = 0.106; p = 0.778). There was a positive correlation between EMG activity of the right masseter and free‐throw accuracy at maximum intercuspation (rs = 0.402; p = 0.046). In contrast, negative correlations were found with other muscles when the occlusal vertical dimension was altered (rs = −0.619, p = 0.001; rs = −0.490; p = 0.013; rs = −0.534; p = 0.006). The chewing type affected the EMG of the left masseter in the altered occlusal vertical dimension (H = 6.969; p = 0.031). Significant differences in EMG recordings were observed across different mandibular positions during free‐throws (p < 0.001). Conclusions: While jaw positioning and chewing type do not impact free‐throw accuracy in amateur female basketball players, the EMG activity of masticatory muscles is linked to shooting performance. This highlights the need for further research on motor behaviour of masticatory muscles in precision sports, especially for athletes using intraoral devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current neuroanatomical evidence showed the anatomical relationship between the temporomandibular joint innervation with the vestibular system. However, there is no clear evidence regarding if temporomandibular disorders are associated with balance impairments. Therefore, the aims of this study were to assess the clinical relevance of stabilometric features in populations with temporomandibular disorders and to analyze the influence of the mandibular position and visual afference in the balance scores in both healthy and clinical populations. This observational study was conducted in one sample of healthy controls and one sample with temporomandibular disorders. Sociodemographic data (age, gender, height, weight, body mass index, and foot size), clinical data (presence or absence of temporomandibular disorders) and stabilometric data under six different conditions were collected. Sixty-nine subjects (43.5% male; 36.2% patients) were assessed. No differences between Temporomandibular disorders and healthy groups were found in any stabilometric outcomes, unlike oscillation area with closed eyes and medium interscuspidal position (p < 0.01). Although visual feedback showed to be relevant (p < 0.0001), mandibular position produced no differences in any stabilometric measurement (p > 0.05). This study found that healthy subjects and patients with temporomandibular disorders showed no balance differences in the stabilometric outcomes assessed. Although visual input played an important role in the balance, mandibular position seems to be irrelevant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are the most common orofacial impairment, but the relevance of certain clinical features in TMD is not clear. Objective: The main objective of this study was to analyse if temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are associated with sociodemographic (eg age, height, weight, body mass index and gender), psychological (eg anxiety and depression) and clinical features (eg use of dental splints, orthodontics, retainers, bruxism, sleep disturbance, familiar prior history of TMD and dental occlusion). Methods: An observational study was conducted to calculate the correlation of TMD, as assessed with DC/TMD criteria, with sociodemographic, psychological and clinical features on 59 voluntary subjects with TMD (n = 45) and without TMD (n = 14). Sex, height, weight, body mass index, age, use of dental splint, orthodontics, retainers, parafunctional disorders, sleep disturbance, familiar history of TMD, bruxism, anxiety, stress and dental occlusion class data were included in a multivariable correlation analysis to determine which variables are associated with TMD and bruxism. Results: TMD was found to be correlated with none of the features assessed (P > .05), but a negative correlation with the use of dental splint (P < .05). Dental occlusion class showed no statistically significant correlation with any assessed feature (P > .05). Conclusion: The etiology of TMD is not clear and considering certain clinical features including dental occlusion are not justified in the evidence-based TMD practice for making irreversible occlusal treatment decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]