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Does the habitual mastication side impact jaw muscle activity?
Karina Helga Leal Turcio1, Paulo Renato Junqueira Zuim1, Aimée Maria Guiotti1
1Department of Dental Materials and Prosthodontics, Araçatuba Dental School, UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil.
Archives of Oral Biology
|March 29, 2016
Summary
Mastication side preference does not significantly alter electrical activity in the anterior temporal and masseter muscles. This study found no significant differences in muscle electrical activity based on habitual or non-habitual chewing sides.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Neuroscience
- Kinesiology
Background:
- Understanding the neuromuscular control of mastication is crucial for diagnosing and treating orofacial disorders.
- Previous research has explored muscle activity during chewing, but the specific impact of chewing side preference requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare electrical activity in the anterior temporal and masseter muscles between the habitual mastication side (HMS) and non-habitual mastication side (NHMS).
- To assess the increase in electrical activity during mastication on both working (WSM) and non-working sides (NWSM) for HMS and NHMS.
- To evaluate muscle electrical activity in the mandibular postural position.
Main Methods:
- 28 healthy women (18-32 years) identified their HMS using Kazazoglu's test.
- Electromyography (EMG) using bipolar surface electrodes recorded muscle activity.
- Data were collected in postural position and during unilateral raisin mastication on both HMS and NHMS, assessing WSM and NWSM separately.
- Statistical analysis employed the Paired Samples Test (95% significance level).
Main Results:
- No statistically significant differences in average EMG values were found between HMS and NHMS in the postural position or during mastication.
- While the increase in electrical activity was significantly higher in the masseter than the temporal muscle (approx. 35%) on the working side (p=0.0), this difference was not observed on the non-working side.
- No significant differences in electrical activity increase were noted between HMS and NHMS on the non-working side.
Conclusions:
- Mastication side preference does not significantly influence the electrical activity of the anterior temporal and masseter muscles.
- The findings suggest that neuromuscular adaptations to chewing side preference may not be substantial in healthy individuals.
- Further research could explore potential subtle differences or long-term effects in specific populations.
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