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Affiliation
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School of Dental Science, The University of Melbourne, School of Human Movement, Recreation and Performance, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia. |
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Abstract
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Basketball is a popular sport in Australia.
Although orofacial injuries are common, mouthguard (MG) wear in basketball
appears to be low. The purposes of this study were: to measure mouthguard wear
by basketball players before and after a promotional intervention; to assess
players' knowledge of the value of mouthguards for prevention of injury;
and to describe their experience of orofacial injury. Two questionnaires
(baseline and follow-up) were administered to a convenience sample of 496
basketball players in Victoria, Australia. Players recruited were youths
(12-15-year olds, n = 208) and adults (18 years and over, n = 288), from all
basketball levels (social to elite). Completion of the baseline questionnaire
was followed immediately by an intervention comprising written and verbal
information, a mouthguard blank and instructions on mouthguard construction. The
follow-up questionnaire was mailed to all respondents 10-12 weeks later; 135
youths (65%) and 157 adults (54%) completed this. Mouthguard wear at baseline
was low but was more frequent at games (62%) than at training (25%). Despite 90%
of players acknowledging the protective value of a mouthguard, wear by youths
did not increase following the intervention, and wear by adults increased by
only 14% for training and 10% at games. Previous orofacial injury was recorded
at baseline by 23% of players, but few had requested compensation from
Basketball Australia (youths, 17%; adults, 30%). Two predictor variables were
statistically identified as related to mouthguard wear: previous orofacial
injury and age group. Mouthguard wear was significantly more frequent amongst
players with previous injury; such players were 2.76 times more likely to be
wearers than those without previous injury. Youths were 2.31 times more likely
to wear mouthguards than adults. Only 34 players (12% of respondents at
follow-up) had a mouthguard constructed from the blank provided. Although youth
and adult groups differed, the overall extent of mouthguard use was
disappointingly low. Despite wide recognition of mouthguard value, the
intervention had little effect on promoting their use. |