Electromyographic evaluation of the effect of ultrasound with muscle stretching in temporomandibular disorder: a clinical trial

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the electromyographic activity of masticatory muscles in women with myogenic or mixed TMD treated with ultrasound and ultrasound associated with stretching. Methods: Sixteen women with myogenic or mixed TMD, according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorder (RDC/TMD), participated in the study. The patients were evaluated using surface electromyography (sEMG) of the masseter and anterior temporalis muscles, during maximum intercuspation, before and immediately after application of therapeutic resources. All patients were treated by ultrasound (US), ultrasound associated with stretching and placebo ultrasound, by turns, once a week with a one-week minimum interval between them. Results: There was greater symmetry of the masseter muscle electrical activity after ultrasound associated with stretching (p=0.03). The electromyographic values for the maximum intercuspation as well as the symmetry of anterior temporal muscle (p=0.47, p=0.84, p=0.84) and anteroposterior coefficient (p=0.07, p=0.84, p=0.57) showed no statistically significant difference after the intervention, placebo, ultrasound and ultrasound with stretching. Conclusions: These results indicate that a single application of ultrasound and ultrasound associated with stretching were not able to modify the activity pattern of the masticatory muscles during maximum intercuspation, except the symmetry of the masseter muscle that increased with the last, in women with myogenic or mixed temporomandibular disorder.

Biofotogrametric and electromyographic analysis in different position in women with temporomandibular disorder.

“…(17) Alterations in the electrical activity of masticatory muscles in patients with TMD has been related to muscle pain, emotional factors, stress and tension, moreover, greater muscle asymmetry can be observed in this group of patients during the sitting evaluation and MI. (18,19) As the results of this study, authors demonstrated in their study a greater activity of the left anterior temporal than the masseter in patients with TMD, when evaluated during MI. (20) The inversion in the pattern of electrical activity in masticatory muscles can also be attributed to possible postural action performed by the anterior temporal muscle and the relation between greater contact of the anterior teeth and relative increase in the activity of this muscle.…”

“…Similar values of muscle activity were found in women with TMD and mean age 25.69 ± 5.13. (18) Another study found higher values when compared to the results of this research (R MA = 1.71; L MA = 2.35; R AT = 2.55; L AT = 2.47). (2) The authors found that patients with different degrees of severity of TMD evaluated with electromyography in resting showed higher electrical activity of the masseter and temporal muscles, especially when such impairment is considered severe.…”

Diaphragmatic amplitude and accessory inspiratory muscle activity in nasal and mouth-breathing adults: A cross-sectional study

“…When both sides contract in perfect symmetry and amplitude curves completely overlap, the POC value is 100% (Boufleur et al, 2014;Ferrario et al, 2000;Ries et al, 2008).…”