Effect of physical activity level on orthodontic pain perception and analgesic consumption in adolescents

•We evaluated baseline physical activity levels of adolescent orthodontic patients.•We then assessed the effects of baseline physical activity levels on orthodontic pain perception and analgesic consumption.•Those with high baseline physical activity reported less pain and took fewer analgesics.•Pain perception differences between males and females might be due to the differences in the physical activity level.

IntroductionThe objective of this study was to assess the effect of baseline physical activity level on orthodontic pain perception and analgesic consumption after orthodontic separator placement in adolescents.MethodsOne hundred fifty participants (mean age, 14.5 years; SD, 1.7 years; 73 girls, 77 boys) were included in this longitudinal study. The physical activity questionnaire was used to assess their baseline physical activity levels. Once participants completed the questionnaire, orthodontic separators were placed at the mesial and distal contact points of the maxillary and mandibular first molars. A 100-mm visual analog scale was used for pain assessment. Analgesic consumption was recorded as a binary response (yes/no). Both outcomes were assessed at 1 baseline time point and 7 follow-up time points (bedtime on days 1 to 7). A multilevel mixed-effect model analysis approach was used to analyze the longitudinal data.ResultsOf the 150 participants in the study, data from 137 were included in the analysis (mean age, 14.4 years; SD, 1.7 years; 65 girls, 72 boys). Compared with the low-activity group (84 participants; 61.3%), the high-activity group (53 participants; 38.7%) experienced significantly less pain (mean estimate, −8.958; P = 0.0114; 95% confidence interval, −15.868 to −2.049) and consumed fewer analgesics (odds ratio, 0.443; P <0.0318; 95% confidence interval, 0.199 to 0.786) during the study period.ConclusionsPhysical activity has a significant influence on orthodontic pain perception and analgesic consumption in adolescents undergoing orthodontic treatment. Further research is needed on this topic to elucidate the association between physical activity and orthodontic pain.