title: The effects of stretching exercise for upper trapezius on the asymmetric rate of bite force.
abstract: [Purpose] The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of stretching the upper trapezius muscle on the asymmetric rate of bite force. [Subjects] Forty-seven female university students who had all their original teeth, had no disorders in the temporomandibular joints, and had never worn braces; participated in this study. [Methods] An occlusometer was used to measure biting forces. Subsequently, stretching exercises of the upper trapezius were performed. The subjects were divided into 3 groups at the start of the testing: the asymmetric rate of the first group was less than 10%; the asymmetric rate of the second group was between 10% and 20%; and the asymmetric rate of the third group was more than 20%. The stretching exercises were done on the dominant side of the upper trapezius. [Results] After the stretching exercises of the upper trapezius, the results showed that for the first group, whose asymmetric rate of biting force was less than 10%, there was a significant increase in asymmetric rate (from 5.1% to 10.3%). For the second group, whose asymmetric rate of biting force was measured to be between 10% and 20%, the asymmetric rate decreased from 14.7% to 14.3%, but the change was not statistically significant. For the third group, whose asymmetric rate of biting force was more than 20%, there was a significant decrease in asymmetric rate (from 27.8% to 12.6%). [Conclusion] We concluded that stretching exercises of the upper trapezius muscle had a direct effect on the asymmetric rate of biting force.
authors: Division of Wellbeing Physical Education, College of Health and Welfare, Silla University, Republic of Korea.
authors: Bomjin
authors: B
authors: Lee
authors: Division of Wellbeing Physical Education, College of Health and Welfare, Silla University, Republic of Korea.
authors: Joongsook
authors: J
authors: Lee
authors: Division of Wellbeing Physical Education, College of Health and Welfare, Silla University, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jeongok
authors: J
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, Kosin University Gospel Hospital, Republic of Korea.
authors: Kwangjin
authors: K
authors: Heo
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health and Welfare, Silla University, Republic of Korea.
authors: Hojin
authors: H
authors: Hwang
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health and Welfare, Silla University, Republic of Korea.
authors: Boyoung
authors: B
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health and Welfare, Silla University, Republic of Korea.
authors: Dongwook
authors: D
authors: Han
keywords: Asymmetric rate of biting force; Stretching exercise; Upper trapezius