title: EMG spectral characteristics of masticatory muscles and upper trapezius during maximum voluntary teeth clenching.
abstract: To assess the surface electromyographic spectral characteristics of masticatory and neck muscles during the performance of maximum voluntary clench (MVC) tasks, 29 healthy young adults (15 men, 14 women, mean age 22years) were examined. Electromyography of masseter, temporalis and upper trapezius muscles was performed during 5-s MVCs either on cotton rolls or in intercuspal position. Using a fast Fourier transform, the median power frequency (MPF) was obtained for the first and last seconds of clench, and compared between sexes, muscles, sides, tests and time intervals using ANOVAs. On average, the MPFs did not differ between sexes or sides (p>0.05), but significant effects of muscle (MPF temporalis larger than masseter, larger than trapezius muscles), test (larger MPFs when clenching in intercuspal position than when clenching on cotton rolls) and time (larger MPFs in the first than in the fifth second of clench) were found. In conclusion, a set of data to characterize the sEMG spectral characteristics of jaw and neck muscles in young adult subjects performing MVC tasks currently in use within the dental field was obtained. Reference values may assist in the assessment of patients with alterations in the cranio-cervical-mandibular system.
authors.affiliation: Functional Anatomy Research Center (FARC), Laboratorio di Anatomia Funzionale dell'Apparato Stomatognatico (LAFAS), Dipartimento di Morfologia Umana e Scienze Biomediche Città Studi, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluigi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lodetti
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mapelli
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Musto
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosati
authors.forename: Chiarella
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sforza
mesh_terms: D001732:Bite Force; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology*; D008410:Masticatory Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D014836:Volition / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult