Effect of Gum Chewing Training on Masseter Muscle Oxygen Dynamics

Area of Science:

• Physiology
• Exercise Science
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Masseter muscle function is crucial for mastication.
• Understanding muscle oxygen dynamics can reveal insights into muscle fatigue and endurance.
• Gum chewing (GCh) is a common activity with potential physiological effects on masticatory muscles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of a 1-month gum chewing (GCh) training program on masseter muscle oxygenation dynamics.
• To assess the effectiveness of GCh training in enhancing masseter muscle endurance and reducing fatigue.

Main Methods:

• 16 healthy adults were randomized into control and GCh training groups.
• GCh training involved chewing moderate-hardness gum for 10 minutes, three times daily for 30 days.
• Masseter muscle oxygen dynamics were measured using spatially resolved near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS).
• Muscle fatigue was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).

Main Results:

• GCh training significantly increased total hemoglobin and oxygenated hemoglobin during clenching.
• The 1/2 recovery time of muscle oxygenation was significantly shortened post-training.
• A decreasing trend in Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores for fatigue was observed in the training group.

Conclusions:

• One month of GCh training positively alters masseter muscle oxygen dynamics during both clenching and recovery phases.
• GCh training appears to improve the aerobic capacity of the masseter muscle.
• The findings suggest GCh training may be a viable method for enhancing masticatory muscle performance and potentially delaying fatigue.