AUTHOR=Fadillioglu Cagla , Kanus Lisa , Möhler Felix , Ringhof Steffen , Hellmann Daniel , Stein Thorsten 

TITLE=Effects of jaw clenching on dynamic reactive balance task performance after 1-week of jaw clenching training

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2023.1140712

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2023.1140712

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=Good balance is essential for human daily life as it may help to improve quality of life and reduce the risk of falls and associated injuries. The influence of jaw clenching on balance control has been shown under static as well as dynamic conditions. Nevertheless, it has not yet been investigated if the effects are mainly associated with the dual-task situation or are caused by jaw clenching itself. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of jaw clenching on dynamic reactive balance task performance prior and after 1 week of jaw clenching training. It was hypothesized that jaw clenching has stabilizing effects resulting in a better dynamic reactive balance performance and these effects are not related to dual-task benefits. A total of 48 physically active and healthy adults were distributed into three groups, one habitual control group (HAB) and two jaw clenching groups (JAW, INT) that had to clench their jaws during the balance tasks at T1 and T2. INT additionally practiced the jaw clenching task for one week, making it familiar and implicit at T2. Dynamic reactive balance was assessed using an oscillating platform perturbed in one of four directions in a randomized order. Kinematic and EMG data were collected by using a 3D motion capture system and a wireless EMG system, respectively. Further, the range of motion of center of mass (CoM) in perturbation direction as well as the velocity of CoM in 3D were analyzed. The mean activity of the muscles relevant for perturbation direction were calculated to investigate reflex activities. The results revealed that jaw clenching had no significant effects on dynamic reactive balance performance or CoM kinematics in any of the three groups, and automation of jaw clenching in INT did not result in a significant change either. However, high learning effects were detected for the dynamic reactive balance task even without any deliberate balance training in the intervention phase. Further, jaw clenching may lead to some changes in reflex activities. However, the effects are limited to anterior-posterior perturbations of the platform.