Electromyographic parameters related to clenching level and jaw-jerk reflex in patients with a simple type of myogenous cranio-mandibular disorder

A discriminant analysis has been applied on several electromyographic (EMG) parameters of the masseter and the anterior temporal muscles, related to clenching and the jaw-jerk reflex, to characterize jaw muscle function of patients with craniomandibular disorder (CMD) with respect to controls. The subject samples, matched for age, consisted of 20 females with myogenous CMD, and 20 symptom-free females. The jaw-jerk reflex was elicited by a downward-directed mandibular load, transmitted by a bite-fork causing a similar occlusion and bite-rise as a splint. The patients differed mainly from the controls by smaller maximum EMG activity in both muscle groups (P less than 0.05 with the bite-fork inserted). This finding was related to a smaller muscle strength as the EMG level did not improve with pain-free jaw muscles after therapy using a relaxation splint. Discriminating factors of secondary importance were an enhanced bilateral asymmetry in the muscle activity of the patients, and in the reflex amplitude normalized for background EMG activity. In all subject samples, the activity of the anterior temporal muscles decreased with respect to the masseter muscles when the bite-fork was inserted (P less than 0.05-0.001). The therapeutic effect of a relaxation splint may, in part, be related to a relief of the temporal muscles.