Could a simple mouthguard make you swim faster?
NCT ID NCT07699263
First seen Jul 13, 2026 · Last updated Jul 14, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This pilot study tests whether a custom-fitted mouthguard (occlusal splint) can improve swimming speed, stroke efficiency, and heart rate in master swimmers aged 20 to 40. Participants swim 50 and 100 meters with and without the mouthguard to see if it boosts performance. The goal is to explore a low-cost, non-drug way to enhance athletic output.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- customized occlusal splint (mouthguard)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a simple, non-drug way to boost athletic performance in swimmers.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small pilot study with only 20 participants, so results may not apply to all swimmers. The effect, if any, might be small or due to chance.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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20 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Dec 2025
- Finished
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May 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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Children (under 18), adults (18 to 64) and older adults (65 and over)
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
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)
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Universidad Europea de Valencia
Valencia, 46003, Spain