Volume 30, Issue 174, August 2026

The Impact of High-Intensity Training on TMJ and Occlusal Disorders: A Literature Review

Jakub Deptuch^1♦, Amelia Sobanek¹, Erwin Górski¹, Filip Szewczyk¹, Aleksandra Wyciślok¹, Weronika Kubiak¹, Zuzanna Szczerba², Justyna Koziarska³

¹Institute of Dentistry of the Central Clinical Hospital of the Medical University of Łódź, Pomorska 251, 92-213 Łódź, Poland
²Navia Clinic, Dowborczyków 34, 90-019 Łódź, Poland
³Independent Public Healthcare Institution in Tarczyn, Warszawska 42, 05-555 Tarczyn, Poland

^♦Corresponding author
Jakub Deptuch, Institute of Dentistry of the Central Clinical Hospital of the Medical University of Łódź, Pomorska 251, 92-213 Łódź, Poland

ABSTRACT

To enhance their performance, athletes often clench their jaws forcefully. In the short term, this intense physical strain is beneficial for biomechanics, but it is extremely harmful to dental health. In order to underline the significance of preventive strategies for temporomandibular and occlusal problems, this literature review attempts to gather existing research on the effects of high-intensity exercise on the stomatognathic system. Severe jaw clenching is a Remote Voluntary Contraction (RVC) that causes Concurrent Activation Potentiation (CAP). This phenomenon increases descending neural drive, which significantly increases the neuromuscular performance and peak force of both upper and lower limbs. Nevertheless, the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is chronically overloaded by the very high maximum voluntary bite forces (MVBF) generated during this diurnal parafunctional habit. The sustained intracapsular pressure surpasses the shockabsorbing capability of the fibrocartilaginous disc and initiates lubrication disturbances and degenerative joint changes. Masticatory muscles contract persistently. It leads to severe local ischemia, metabolic fatigue, and myofascial pain. Clinicians observe these strong biomechanical vectors as accelerated macroscopic tooth wear, enamel microfractures, and non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs). The adaptive capacity of the stomatognathic system is exceeded by exercise-induced awake bruxism, which therefore becomes a primary etiologic factor of severe dental and temporomandibular joint pathologies. Effective conservative treatment involves targeted physiotherapy to relieve myofascial tension, cognitive-behavioral interventions to control clenching, and the mandatory use of custom bite-aligning mouthguards. Custom-fitted splints will protect teeth, reduce pressure on the temporomandibular joint, and allow athletes to safely maintain the ergogenic neuromuscular benefits of jaw clenching.

Keywords: Temporomandibular Joint Disorders, Awake Bruxism, Resistance Training, Tooth Wear, Bite Force, Occlusal Splints, Concurrent Activation Potentiation

Medical Science, 2026, 30, e147ms3936

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Published: 12 August 2026