A kinematic description of the temporal characteristics of jaw motion for early chewing: preliminary findings.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this investigation was to describe age- and consistency-related changes in the temporal characteristics of chewing in typically developing children between the ages of 4 and 35 months and adults using high-resolution optically based motion capture technology.


METHODS
Data were collected from 60 participants (48 children, 12 adults) across 5 age ranges (beginners, 7 months, 12 months, 35 months, and adults); each age group included 12 participants. Three different food consistencies were trialed as appropriate. The data were analyzed to assess changes in chewing rate, chewing sequence duration, and estimated number of chewing cycles.


RESULTS
The results revealed both age- and consistency-related changes in chewing rate, sequence duration, and estimated number of chewing cycles, with consistency differences affecting masticatory timing in children as young as 7 months of age. Chewing rate varied as a function of age and consistency, and chewing sequence duration was shorter for adults than for children regardless of consistency type. In addition, the results from the estimated number of chewing cycles measure suggest that chewing effectiveness increased with age; this measure was also dependent on consistency type.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that the different temporal chewing variables follow distinct developmental trajectories and are consistency dependent in children as young as 7 months of age. Clinical implications are detailed.
Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. emhillman@wisc.edu
Erin M
EM
Wilson
Jordan R
JR
Green
Gary
G
Weismer
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007568:Jaw / Q000502:physiology*; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology*; D008410:Masticatory Muscles / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014743:Videotape Recording