title: Co-activation of jaw and neck muscles during submaximum clenching in the supine position.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that jaw clenching induces co-contraction and low-level long-lasting tonic activation (LLTA) of neck muscles in the supine position.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten healthy subjects developed various feedback-controlled submaximum bite forces in different bite-force directions in supine position. The electromyographic (EMG) activity of the semispinalis capitis, semispinalis cervicis, multifidi, splenius capitis, levator scapulae, trapezius, sternocleidomastoideus, masseter and infra/supra-hyoidal muscles was recorded. For normalization of EMG data, maximum-effort tasks of the neck muscles were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Co-contractions of the posterior neck muscles varied between 2% and 11% of their maximum voluntary contraction. Different bite forces and bite-force directions resulted in significant (p<.05) activity differences between the co-contraction levels of the neck muscles. In addition, LLTA of specific neck muscles, provoked by the jaw clenching tasks, was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated for the first time moderate co-contractions of jaw and neck muscles in the supine position under controlled submaximum jaw clenching forces. LLTA of most neck muscles was observed, outlasting clenching episodes and indicating an additional neuromuscular interaction between the two muscle groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, University of Heidelberg, Germany. Electronic address: nik.giannakopoulos@med.uni-heidelberg.de.
authors.forename: N N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Giannakopoulos
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Schindler
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rammelsberg
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eberhard
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmitter
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hellmann
mesh_terms: D001732:Bite Force; D002012:Bruxism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007568:Jaw / Q000502:physiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008406:Masseter Muscle / Q000502:physiology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D016683:Supine Position; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Bruxism; Electromyography; Masticatory muscles; Neck muscles; Submaximum bite forces