Association between Sports-Related Concussion and Mouthguard Use among College Sports Players: A Case-Control Study Based on Propensity Score Matching

Yoshiaki Ono, Yuto Tanaka, Kazuki Sako, Masahiro Tanaka and Junya Fujimoto
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Yoshiaki Ono: Department of Special Care Dentistry, Osaka Dental University Hospital, 1-5-17, Otemae, Chuo, Osaka 570-0008, Japan
Yuto Tanaka: Department of Special Care Dentistry, Osaka Dental University Hospital, 1-5-17, Otemae, Chuo, Osaka 570-0008, Japan
Kazuki Sako: Department of Fixed Prosthodontics and Occlusion, Osaka Dental University, Osaka 540-0008, Japan
Masahiro Tanaka: Department of Fixed Prosthodontics and Occlusion, Osaka Dental University, Osaka 540-0008, Japan
Junya Fujimoto: Department of Health and Sport Management, Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences, Osaka 590-0496, Japan

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-9

Abstract: Sports-related concussion (SRC) is a major public health concern. This study aimed to assess the association between mouthguard use and the incidence of SRC in college students through a case-control study using propensity score matching. In total, 195 of 2185 potential participants volunteered to participate in this study. We used Google Forms online to capture participants’ information, including: age; gender; height; weight; sports contact level; level of play; exposure time; frequency of mouthguard use; mouthguard type; and SRC experience. Data for 115 participants who played collision and contact sports were used for the analysis. The difference in the frequency of mouthguard use was assessed between matched pairs and the overall association between SRC and mouthguard use was evaluated. In the matched groups, those who had not experienced SRC wore a mouthguard more frequently than those who had experienced SRC (7/28 vs. 1/28; p = 0.051). Logistic regression analysis showed there was a significant negative association between the frequency of mouthguard use and the incidence of SRC (odds ratio 0.101; p = 0.041). Within the limitations of this study, these results suggest that mouthguard use may offer some benefit in preventing SRC.

Keywords: concussion; mouthguard; propensity score (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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