The influence of the stomatognathic system on explosive strength: a pilot study

[Purpose] Recent findings suggest there is an interesting interaction between the stomatognathic system and the musculoskeletal system. The aim of this study was therefore to examine the influence of the temporomandibular joint on the explosive strength of the lower limbs. [Subjects and Methods] An observational study was carried out. The subjects were 60 male football players who voluntarily participated in the investigation. After a warm-up phase of 10 minutes, each participant performed three Squat Jumps (SJ) with different mandible positions: mouth closed and mouth open. SJ heights were recorded using a Sensor Medica force platform and the FreeMed system. [Results] Sixty participants were enrolled in this study (age: 24 ± 7 yrs; height: 174 ± 4.6 cm; weight 63.7 ± 7.6 kg). The SJ heights with the mouth closed, 38.50 ± 4.0 cm, were shorter than those with the mouth open, 40.4 ± 4.1 cm. Statistical analysis showed there was a statistically significant difference between the performances. [Conclusion] This pilot study highlighted that occlusal factors can influence physical performance and this could have practical applications in sports and exercise science. However, our results have to be confirmed in studies with larger numbers of participants and supported by other investigations.