Determination of chewing efficiency using muscle work.
OBJECTIVE
A new method was proposed to evaluate 'true' chewing efficiency in which the 'cost' of chewing was accounted for.


METHODS
Twenty-three subjects were asked to chew an almond for 5 cycles, after which the chewed particles were air-dried and passed through a 1.4-mm aperture sieve. The activity of both superficial masseter muscles was simultaneously recorded with surface EMG. Integrated EMG (IEMG) was used to calculate burst amplitude, burst duration and maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). The percentage weight of particles passing the sieve was used to represent the conventional chewing efficiency (or masticatory performance). Muscle work (integral of IEMG bursts), muscle effort (muscle work normalized to maximum work) and masticatory effectiveness (the ratio between masticatory performance and muscle work) were also calculated.


RESULTS
The results showed that (1) masticatory performance was significantly correlated with muscle work (R=0.45; p<0.005), MVC (R=0.31; p=0.04), but not correlated with muscle effort; (2) masticatory effectiveness was significantly correlated with MVC (R=0.58, p<0.001), but not correlated with masticatory performance.


CONCLUSIONS
Persons with good masticatory performance were not necessarily effective (or efficient) chewers. They seemed to have larger MVCs and use more muscle work during the chewing task.
Paphangkorakit
Jarin
J
Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Khon Kaen University, 123 Mitraparp Road, Muang District, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand. jarin@kku.ac.th
Chaiyapanya
Nayiga
N
Sriladlao
Penprapa
P
Pimsupa
Sutasinee
S
D000328:Adult; D001732:Bite Force; D004526:Efficiency / Q000502:physiology; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008406:Masseter Muscle / Q000502:physiology*; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*