Great potential of ultrasound elastography for the assessment of the masseter muscle in patients with temporomandibular disorders. A systematic review

Więckiewicz

Małysa

et al. 2021

IJERPH

Self Cite

Shear wave elastography (SWE) is an objective and reliable method for the assessment of muscles and internal organs. Every organ exhibits its own stiffness characteristics and hence requires individual reference values. We aimed to determine the reference values of stiffness of the masseter muscle in healthy adult individuals using SWE. We analyzed the data of 140 participants (74 men, 66 women) with a median age of 50 years. The overall mean elasticity was 10.67 ± 1.77 kPa. The average values were lower by 2.25 kPa (9.15%) in women compared to men (9.48 ± 1.47 kPa vs. 11.73 ± 1.27 kPa; p < 0.0001). The values of stiffness increased with age, with a correlation coefficient of about 0.35 and a p < 0.0001. Age was a significant influencing factor of masseter muscle stiffness. The left and right masseters had similar stiffness. We conclude that stiffness values are significantly lower in women than in men with a difference of 9%. Age significantly influences the stiffness of masseter muscle, and the values of stiffness increase significantly with age, particularly in men. However, further studies are required to determine the precise ranges of stiffness accounting for age and sex in healthy subjects and people with disorders and conditions of the masticatory system.

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determination of Reference Values of the Masseter Muscle Stiffness in Healthy Adults Using Shear Wave Elastography

Więckiewicz

Małysa

et al. 2021

IJERPH

Self Cite

“…Reports from the literature show that shear wave elastography has the potential to be used in the evaluation of the condition of masseter muscle stiffness [ 25 ]. Our study showed that chewing gum intensively increases the stiffness of both muscles of the masticatory system significantly.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring of Changes in Masticatory Muscle Stiffness after Gum Chewing Using Shear Wave Elastography

Grzech‐Leśniak

Hadzik

et al. 2021

JCM

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This study aimed to investigate if intensive exercise affects the stiffness of the masticatory muscles measured with shear-wave elastography. The study included a cohort of healthy adults (n = 40) aged 40 ± 11 years. In each individual, the stiffness of both the masseter and temporalis muscle was examined three times: at baseline, after 10 min of intensive exercise (chewing gum), and after 10 min of relaxation. Stiffness values (median (IQR)) of both the masseter and temporalis muscle were the lowest at the baseline (11.35 (9.7–12.65) and 10.1 (9.1–10.95)), increased significantly after the exercise (12.5 (11.1–13.25) and 10.3 (10.2–10.52)) and then dropped significantly after 10 min of relaxing (11.75 (9.95–12.6) and 10.2 (9.65–11.9)). The stiffness of the temporalis muscle was significantly lower than that of the masseter muscle. The values of the stiffness of the masseters correlated significantly with the values of the stiffness of the temporalis muscles. Shear wave elastography proved to be a sensitive method for showing changes in the stiffness of the muscles involved in the mastication occurring as a response to the effort, which increased the muscle stiffness. Further research is needed to broaden knowledge on the impact of eating habits and the occurrence of parafunctions on the development of temporomandibular disorders and the condition of masticatory muscles.

“…We also recommend taking 3 separate measurements from 3 different images rather than, as was conducted in the present study, multiple measurements from 1 image. The method of measurement was modelled on previously published studies [ 16 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Masseter muscle stiffness was measured with shear-wave elastography before and immediately after the massage using the Aixplorer Ultimate device (SuperSonic Imagine, Aix-en-Provence, France) with a high-frequency linear probe SL 18–5 (5–18 MHz). On each examination, elastic Young's modulus was recorded, named in this study as an elasticity value and expressed in kPa [ 16 , 19 – 21 ]. The patients were examined in a supine, relaxed, and comfortable position.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Potential of Using Shear Wave Elastography in the Clinical Evaluation and Monitoring of Changes in Masseter Muscle Stiffness

Pain Research and Management

Więckiewicz

Sconfienza

et al. 2020

Self Cite

The study aimed to evaluate masseter muscle stiffness in adult healthy volunteers referred to a massage treatment and also to investigate whether shear-wave elastography can be used to monitor the effect of massage on the masseter muscle. The study included 21 healthy volunteers, who were subjected to a 30-minute massage of the masseter muscle. Muscle stiffness was measured by shear-wave elastography before and directly after the massage. Pain during the massage was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS). The data of 20 patients (one excluded due to severe pain) with a median age of 34.5 years were analysed. The stiffness values were 11.46 ± 1.55 kPa before and 8.97 ± 0.96 kPa after the massage ( p < 0.0001 ). The mean drop was 2.49 ± 1.09 kPa. The greatest decrease was observed in people with higher elasticity values before the massage (r = 0.79; p < 0.0001 ). The median intensity of pain was 7.2 (range: 6–9.5). We concluded that shear-wave elastography is a sensitive tool to monitor changes in the stiffness of the masseter muscle.