title: Stomatognathic function in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: a case-control study.
abstract: This study aimed to analyse electromyographic activity, masticatory efficiency, muscle thickness, and bite force of individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).
  
  
  
  Forty males aged 4-15 years, 20 with DMD and 20 healthy age-, height-, and weight-matched controls, underwent electromyography and ultrasonography of temporalis, masseter, and sternocleidomastoid muscles during postural control of the jaw, mastication, and maximal molar bite force.
  
  
  
  The normalized electromyography signals showed higher activity in masseter and temporal muscles at rest, during protrusion, left and right laterality, and fatigue condition in the group with DMD than in the comparison group (p≤0.05). For masticatory efficiency of cycles, in analysis of non-habitual chewing of flavourless gum, and habitual chewing of peanuts and raisins, the group with DMD presented lower averages (p≤0.05). For the muscle thickness, the results showed that there was a lower muscle thickness in the group with DMD for all muscles during the rest and maximal voluntary contraction, except for masseter and sternocleidomastoid in the maximal voluntary contraction. In the maximal molar bite force, the group with DMD presented higher values for both sides than the comparison group (p≤0.05).
  
  
  
  Patients with DMD show muscle changes related to the stomatognathic system, in their activity, bite force, and muscle thickness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Physiology and Basic Pathology, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Physiology and Basic Pathology, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gabriel Pádua
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Da Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Physiology and Basic Pathology, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camila Rosa
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Physiology and Basic Pathology, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Veridiana Wanshi
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Arnoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Physiology and Basic Pathology, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Selma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siéssere
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Physiology and Basic Pathology, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Semprini
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Physiology and Basic Pathology, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Edson Donizetti
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Verri
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thais Cristina
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chaves
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Physiology and Basic Pathology, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Simone Cecilio Hallak
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Regalo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001732:Bite Force; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008406:Masseter Muscle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology*; D020388:Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013284:Stomatognathic System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013703:Temporal Muscle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography