Haemodynamic changes in human masseter and temporalis muscles induced by different levels of isometric contraction.

This study evaluated the influence of low contraction forces on intramuscular haemodynamics in human masseter and temporalis using near-infrared tissue spectroscopy. This method allowed the intramuscular haemoglobin (Hb) to be assessed dynamically before, during and after a 5, 15, 25 and 100% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). Twenty volunteers, 10 males and 10 females, without pain or dysfunction in the masticatory system were included in this study. Data were recorded for 30 s before, 30 s during and 5 min after the four sustained contraction tasks. The results showed that all four levels of voluntary contraction produced a clear haemodynamic response (during and after contraction) in both muscles. For analytical purposes, the maximum Hb achieved after 100% MVC was set equal to 1.00. In the masseter the mean peak Hb during the 5, 15, 25 and 100% MVC was 0.49, 0.92, 1.30 and 1.73 while after the contractions it was 0.50, 0.65, 0.78 and 1.00, respectively. In the temporalis the peak Hb during the contractions was 0.23, 0.36, 0.48 and 0.66 and after the contractions 0.32, 0.45, 0.56 and 1.00, respectively. Repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed a significant main effect for the different contraction levels both in the masseter (during contraction, p = 0.001; after contraction, p<0.001) and the temporalis (during contraction, p = 0.002; after contraction, p<0.001). These data suggest that low levels of contraction induce a clear haemodynamic response, even at 5% effort. When compared, the masseter and anterior temporalis showed clearly different patterns for the Hb signal during the contraction (p<0.001) as well as after it (p = 0.007). Specifically, the Hb during the contractions in the masseter appeared more stable than in the temporalis, which showed a strong return to baseline. Obviously the contracting masseter had a stronger and more sustained venous occlusion than the contracting temporalis. It is speculated that variation in architecture between the two muscles contributes to these differences in blood flow.     

Endurance and recovery from a sustained isometric contraction in human jaw-elevating muscles

Ten males sustained maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) of the jaw elevators. Unilateral bite force and electromyographic (EMG) activity were recorded from the right masseter and temporalis. The experiment comprised three endurance trials, and each trial consisted of two sustained 100% MVC clenching tasks. Between the two tasks, the subjects took a randomly assigned rest of either 30, 120 or 300 s. Immediately after each task, they performed an additional brief 100% MVC to check for contractile failure. EMGs were taken from the beginning and end of each sustained 100% MVC and used to determine and compare the EMG centre frequency. The difference in endurance times between the first and second clenchings was greatest for the 30-s rest and progressively decreased as the rest period increased. The beginning EMG centre frequency was significantly greater than the end for each clenching. These findings strongly support the proposal that even though the jaw elevators are resistant to a contractile element failure, a contraction-induced pain is produced, which limits a sustained jaw-closing effort. Recovery from this effort pain is related to the post-contraction blood flow.     

Surface EMG frequency dependence on force in the masseter and the anterior temporal muscles

Myoelectric power spectrum analysis was used to study isometric contractions, 10-15 s long, of the masseter muscles and the anterior temporal muscles. Surface EMG activity was recorded from these muscles for nine females while biting on a bite force transducer up to maximal effort (100% maximal voluntary contraction; MVC). The mean frequency (MF) was calculated as a single estimate of the myoelectric power spectrum. Regression analyses were made of MF versus bite force (0-100% MVC). The mean MF values of all females' masseter muscles increased up to 55-60% MVC. For the anterior temporal muscles no increase in mean MF was found above 20-25% MVC. The increase in MF was possibly dependent on recruitment of type I fibers and low-pass tissue filtering effects. The slope of regression for the force level 0-60% MVC was intraindividually steeper for the masseter muscles than for the anterior temporal muscles. A similar decrease in mean MF was found for the masseter muscles and the anterior temporal muscles for the force level 60-100% MVC. The possibility of muscular fatigue was discussed.     

Surface EMG frequency dependence on force in the masseter and the anterior temporal muscles

Abstract – Myoelectric power spectrum analysis was used to study isometric contractions, 10–15 s long, of the masseter muscles and the anterior temporal muscles. Surface EMG activity was recorded from these muscles for nine females while biting on a bite force transducer up to maximal effort (100% maximal voluntary contraction; MVC). The mean frequency (MF) was calculated as a single estimate of the myoelectric power spectrum. Regression analyses were made of MF versus bite force (0–100% MVC). The mean MF values of all females' masseter muscles increased up to 55–60% MVC. For the anterior temporal muscles no increase in mean MF was found above 20–25% MVC The increase in MF was possibly dependent on recruitment of type I fibers and low-pass tissue filtering effects. The slope of regression for the force level 0–60% MVC was intraindividually steeper for the masseter muscles than for the anterior temporal muscles. A similar decrease in mean MF was found for the masseter muscles and the anterior temporal muscles for the force level 60–100% MVC The possibility of muscular fatigue was discussed.     

Correlation of the near-infrared spectroscopy signals with signal intensity in T(2)-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the human masseter muscle

The purpose of this study was to compare and contrast blood volume changes transcutaneously measured using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy against water signal intensity changes taken from a transverse T(2)-weighted MR image of the masseter muscle in healthy human subjects before, during and after contraction. Eight healthy non-smoking males with no history of chronic muscle pain or vascular headaches participated (mean age: 23.9+/-0.6 years). The MRI data were gathered using a turbo spin echo sequence (TR: 2300 ms; TE: 90 ms; FOV: 188x300 mm; scanning time: 30 s; slice thickness: 10 mm) and the slice level was set at the mid-point between the origin and insertion of the masseter. Intramuscular haemoglobin (Hb) levels and water content of the right masseter muscle were continuously monitored for 2 min before, 30 s during and 15 min after a maximum voluntary clenching (MVC) task. Both the near-infrared and MRI data were baseline-corrected and normalized and mean levels were established and plotted. Plots of the data showed that both near-infrared-based total Hb and T(2)-weighted MRI-based signal-intensity levels clearly decreased during contraction and a clear post-contraction rebound response was evident after the contraction. The near-infrared data were found to be highly correlated with MRI-based signal-intensity data (Pearson's r=0.909, P<0.0001). In conclusion, these data provide powerful evidence that near-infrared data (total Hb), transcutaneously taken from the masseter muscle in humans, will reflect the intramuscular water signal intensity changes seen using a T(2)-weighted MRI imaging method.     

Fatigue and pain in human jaw muscles during a sustained, low-intensity clenching task

Fatigue, pain and changes in the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the jaw-closing muscles are well documented during short, high-intensity tooth-clenching tasks but less so during sustained, low-intensity tasks. In this study, 11 healthy men clenched on a bite-force meter for 60 min at 10% of the maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and scored the intensity of fatigue and pain on separate 10 cm visual analogue scales (VAS). Surface EMG activity from the masseter and anterior temporalis muscles was recorded in 10 s epochs every 5 min throughout the task. Pressure-pain thresholds (PPTs) in the jaw-closing muscles, unassisted maximum jaw opening and MVC were determined before and after the task. All participants reported an increasing sensation of fatigue in the jaw-closing muscles during the task (mean+/-SD: peak VAS=7.5+/-2.0 cm) but all were able to maintain the required force. Most (7/11) also reported a painful sensation (peak VAS=2.7+/-2.8 cm). The jaw-opening capacity (59.5+/-7.4 vs. 58.3+/-6.5 mm, P=0.031) and the MVC (777+/-73 vs. 652+/-115 N,P=0.002) were slightly, but significantly, decreased immediately after the task whereas the PPTs remained unchanged (ANOVA: P=0.612). The mean frequency of the EMG activity decreased in all muscles during the task (95.7 vs. 46.6 Hz;P<0.001), and the root mean squares increased (53.2 vs. 154 microV, P<0.001). The changes in EMG activity were more strongly correlated with the sensation of fatigue than pain. These findings demonstrate that a sustained, low-intensity clenching task can induce subjective and electrophysiological indications of fatigue.     

Determination of chewing efficiency using muscle work

OBJECTIVE: A new method was proposed to evaluate 'true' chewing efficiency in which the 'cost' of chewing was accounted for. DESIGN: Twenty-three subjects were asked to chew an almond for 5 cycles, after which the chewed particles were air-dried and passed through a 1.4-mm aperture sieve. The activity of both superficial masseter muscles was simultaneously recorded with surface EMG. Integrated EMG (IEMG) was used to calculate burst amplitude, burst duration and maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). The percentage weight of particles passing the sieve was used to represent the conventional chewing efficiency (or masticatory performance). Muscle work (integral of IEMG bursts), muscle effort (muscle work normalized to maximum work) and masticatory effectiveness (the ratio between masticatory performance and muscle work) were also calculated. RESULTS: The results showed that (1) masticatory performance was significantly correlated with muscle work (R=0.45; p<0.005), MVC (R=0.31; p=0.04), but not correlated with muscle effort; (2) masticatory effectiveness was significantly correlated with MVC (R=0.58, p<0.001), but not correlated with masticatory performance. CONCLUSION: Persons with good masticatory performance were not necessarily effective (or efficient) chewers. They seemed to have larger MVCs and use more muscle work during the chewing task.     

Relationship between mean power frequency and potential of human masticatory muscles at rest position and clenching

The EMG signals from left and right masseter and anterior temporal muscles of 40 healthy subjects were sampled at rest position and through gradually increased clench level to maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) at intercuspal position. A visual sense feedback of masseter muscle potential value was used for the subject to control clench level. The relationship between mean power frequency (MPF) and potential of EMG was investigated by a curvilinear regression of the second order. It was found that the relationship was of the second order logarithmic curve with maximum value of MPF. With the raising of the potential levels of EMG, the MPF increased at the lower clench levels and decreased at higher clench levels. The results indicate that controlling an identical clench level is necessary for using MPF to describe the functional state of masticatory muscles in the clinical situation.     

Effects of topical cooling on isometric contractions of the human masseter muscle

Six adult males performed tooth clenching for 10 and 80 s at maximum voluntary contraction strength (MVC). Motor activity in the right and left masseter muscles was monitored by surface electromyography. Local temperatures of both cheeks were monitored by a thermocouple. MVC activity for 80 s induced pain and fatigue in both muscles; 10 s of clenching caused no muscle discomfort. Ice, subsequently applied to the right cheek for 30 min, lowered the temperature of the cheek and masseter muscle. The isometric MVC exercises were then repeated. During 10 s of isometric contraction, MVC motor activity in the cooled masseter muscle was significantly increased by 29 per cent; that of the non-cooled contralateral muscle was insignificantly reduced by 12 per cent. During 80 s of clenching, MVC motor activity in the cooled muscle was significantly increased by 30 per cent; that of the non-cooled muscle was insignificantly reduced by 4 per cent. MVC activity for 80 s by the cooled muscle caused no pain and fatigue, but the discomforts continued in the non-cooled muscle. Increased MVC alpha motor activity in the cooled masseter muscle might have resulted from motor facilitation that was mediated by cutaneous, muscular or mucosal cold receptors, or it might have been due to the absence of pain and fatigue.     

Effect of experimental jaw muscle pain on EMG activity and bite force distribution at different level of clenching

Bite force at different levels of clenching and the corresponding electromyographic (EMG) activity in jaw‐closing muscles were recorded in 16 healthy women before, during and after painful stimulation of the left masseter muscle. Experimental pain was induced by infusion of 5·8% hypertonic saline (HS), and 0·9% isotonic saline (IS) was infused as a control. EMG activity was recorded bilaterally from the masseter and temporalis muscles, and static bite force was assessed by pressure‐sensitive films (Dental Pre‐scale) at 5, 50 and 100% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) during each session. Visual feedback was applied by showing EMG activity to help the subject perform clenching at 5, 50 and 100% MVC, respectively. EMG activity at 100% MVC in left and right masseter decreased significantly during painful HS infusion (1·7–44·6%; P < 0·05). EMG activity at 5% and 50% MVC was decreased during HS infusion in the painful masseter muscle (4·8–18·6%; P < 0·05); however, EMG activity in the other muscles increased significantly (18·5–128·3%; P < 0·05). There was a significant increase in bite force in the molar regions at 50% MVC during HS infusion and in the post‐infusion condition (P < 0·05). However, there were no significant differences in the distribution of forces at 100% MVC. In conclusion, experimental pain in the masseter muscle has an inhibitory effect on jaw muscle activity at maximal voluntary contraction, and compensatory mechanisms may influence the recruitment pattern at submaximal efforts.     

Co‐contraction behaviour of masticatory and neck muscles during tooth grinding

The objective of this study was to analyse the co‐contraction behaviour of jaw and neck muscles during force‐controlled experimental grinding in the supine position. Twelve symptom‐free subjects were enrolled in the experimental study. Electromyographic (EMG) activity of semispinalis capitis, splenius capitis and levator scapulae muscles was recorded bilaterally with intramuscular fine‐wire electrodes, whereas that of sternocleidomastoideus, infrahyoidal, suprahyoidal, masseter and anterior temporalis muscles were registered with surface electrodes. EMG and force measurements were performed during tasks simulating tooth grinding on custom‐made intraoral metal splints. The mean EMG activity normalised by maximum voluntary contraction (% MVC) of each of the neck muscles studied during grinding was analysed and compared with previous data from jaw clenching at identical force (100 N) and (supine) position. The occurrence of low‐level, long‐lasting tonic activation (LLTA) of motor units was also documented. The mean three‐dimensional force vector of the grinding forces was 106 ± 74 N. In the frontal plane, the incline to the midsagittal plane ranged between 10° and 15°. In the midsagittal plane, the incline to the frontal plane was negligibly small. Posterior neck muscle activity during grinding ranged between 4.5% and 12% MVC and during clenching with 100 N between 1.8% and 9.9% MVC. Masticatory muscle activity during grinding ranged between 17% and 21% MVC for contralateral masseter and ipsilateral temporalis and between 4% and 6.5% for ipsilateral masseter and contralateral temporalis. LLTA had an average duration of 195 ± 10 seconds. The findings from this study do not support pathophysiological muscle chain theories postulating simple biomechanical coupling of neck and jaw muscles. Co‐contractions of neck and masticatory muscles may instead occur as a result of complex neurophysiological interactions.     

Effects of experimental nasal obstruction on human masseter and suprahyoid muscle activities during sleep

The effect of nasal obstruction on nocturnal masseter and suprahyoid muscle activities using a newly developed portable electromygram (EMG)-recording unit was examined. Ten healthy Japanese males participated in this study. EMG activities of both the right masseter and bilateral suprahyoid muscles were recorded with a portable EMG-recording unit. At midnight, the subject was asked to lie on a bed after complete preparation with surface electrodes. After maximal clenching and jaw-opening effort (100% maximum voluntary contribution), the subject was allowed to fall asleep. In the first half of the night, EMG activities were recorded for about three hours of sleep without nasal obstruction. In the second half of the night, EMG activities were recorded for about three hours of sleep with nasal obstruction. In both muscles, there were no significant changes in either the maximal EMG activities or the number of events beyond 40% MVC with nasal obstruction. But in an evaluation based on the distribution of muscle activities, the EMG activity of the masseter muscle tended to decrease (P = .07) and that of the suprahyoid muscles increased significantly (P = .02) with nasal obstruction. These results suggest that nasal obstruction could modulate the activities of the masseter and suprahyoid muscles during sleep.     

The sufficiency of blood flow in human masseter muscle during endurance of biting in the intercuspal position and on a force transducer

Blood flow changes caused by endurance of voluntary isometric muscle contraction and the sufficiency of flow during contraction were assessed by measuring 133Xe clearance. Aiming at 50% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), 9 healthy persons sustained biting in the intercuspal position (ICP group) at an actual medium EMG activity level of 55% MVC, while receiving a visual feedback of the average-integrated EMG activity. Eleven persons sustained unilateral biting (UBF group) on a force transducer at 40% MVC, receiving feedback of the force output. The significantly lower % MVC for the UBF group was due in part to a decrease in the EMG activity during endurance, while force was constant. Blood flow changes over time were significant; however, the changes differed significantly between groups during endurance: the ICP group had a median reduction in blood flow to 0.4 of the initial resting value, and the UBF group had a 0.2-fold median increase. Following endurance, flow changes integrated over 3 minutes were about 43-fold the initial resting values of both groups. This similarity was probably a result of their equivalent effort. The endurance flow accounted for 1% of the total change for the ICP group and 5% for the UBF group. Overall, the proportion of the total flow that took place during endurance decreased logarithmically with greater level of contraction and masseter effort. Therefore, sufficiency of blood flow to maintain muscle fibre homeostasis is less when the rate of metabolic turnover is greater, thus contributing to an earlier onset of masseter fatigue, pain and exhaustion at high contraction levels.     

Nocturnal masseter and suprahyoid muscle activity induced by wearing a bionator

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a bionator on masseter and suprahyoid muscle activities during sleep. Ten healthy Japanese males (mean age: 26.3 years) participated in this study. Electromyographic (EMG) activities of the right masseter and bilateral suprahyoid muscles were recorded during sleep with and without a bionator. Although no significant changes were observed in the maximal EMG activities of these muscles, the maximal EMG activity of suprahyoid muscles tended to decrease while wearing the bionator. The number of events over 40% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) tended to decrease in these muscles with a bionator, but these changes were not statistically significant. These findings indicate that there are no significant changes or there is only a tendency to decrease the activities of the masseter and suprahyoid muscles while wearing a bionator during sleep.     

Analysis of muscle hardness in patients with masticatory myofascial pain.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to access any changes in the muscle hardness of the masseter muscle between normal subjects and patients with myofascial pain during brief sustained isometric contractions at various bite force levels, and to compare muscle hardness, especially in terms of the recovery phase, after a clenching task. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients with masticatory myofascial pain and 10 age- and weight-matched normal healthy controls participated in this study. First, the hardness of the right masseter muscle was measured at the bite force of 0, 3, 6, and 9 kgf with a hand-held hardness meter. Then, the subjects were requested to exert a 9 kgf-clenching task for 30 seconds. The muscle hardness was again measured at 5, 30, and 120 seconds after the task, and the data obtained were compared with the muscle hardness before the clenching task. RESULTS: The results showed that there was no significant difference between the patients and the normal controls, while the muscle hardness increased with contraction in all subjects. The present findings also showed that the patients had a delayed return to baseline after the clenching task compared with the normal subjects, although an immediate increase after the clenching task was seen in all subjects. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that patients with masticatory myofascial pain have different muscle properties in the recovery phase after contraction, probably because of a slower intramuscular reperfusion.     

Effect of intravenous infusion of an alpha-adrenergic blocking agent on the haemodynamic changes in human masseter muscle induced by cold pressor stimulation.

This study evaluated the effect of intravenous infusion of a non-selective alpha-adrenergic blocking agent on masseter muscle haemodynamics induced by 4 degrees C cold pressor stimulation (CPS) of the right foot and ankle, which reportedly evokes a rapidly increasing sympathetic nerve activity in human skeletal muscle. Nine healthy non-smoking males (mean age 23.7+/-2.1 year) with no history of chronic muscle pain or migraine participated. The haemoglobin (Hb) concentration in the right masseter was continuously recorded by non-invasive, near-infrared spectroscopy. Heart rate and blood pressure were also recorded. The experiment involved the following sequence: (1) a placebo (physiological saline) with a CPS trial; (2) a 30-sec maximal voluntary clenching (MVC)-only trial; and (3) an alpha-adrenergic blocking agent with a CPS trial. The saline and drug trials each involved continuous recording for 1 min before, 2 min during and 5 min after the CPS. Physiological saline (20 ml) or phentolamine mesylate (20 ml) were infused at the rate of 2 ml/min. This infusion was begun 15 min before baseline recording and participants were not aware which solution (saline or phentolamine) was being infused. For the MVC trial, each participant performed a 30-sec MVC of his jaw-closing muscles followed by a 15-min rest between each trial. The individual Hb data were adjusted so that the baseline at the beginning of the experiment was equal to zero and all data were normalized as a percentage of the individual's highest absolute Hb change seen after the MVC. The mean baseline Hb concentrations 1 min before CPS were significantly higher in the alpha-blocker trial (83.6%) than in the placebo saline trial (P < 0.001). The change in mean Hb concentration from baseline during CPS in the alpha-blocker trial was significantly less than in the placebo trial (P = 0.006). Mean heart rate before CPS was also significantly higher in the alpha-blocker trial (85.2 beats/min) than in the placebo trial (69.6 beats/min) (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures between the placebo and alpha-blocker trials in any time period. The results suggest that non-selective alpha-adrenoceptor blockade increases the blood volume in the masseter muscle. This change might be due to a combination of peripheral vasodilation and an increase in cardiac output.     

Influence of the thickness of soft tissues overlying human masseter and temporalis muscles on the electromyographic maximal voluntary contraction level

Skinfold measurements by means of calipers and the use of linear regression functions, representing relationships between maximal EMG activity and skinfold thickness, provide a simple and non-invasive procedure to diminish the influence of the thickness of the subcutaneous tissues overlying jaw-elevator muscles on electromyographic data of the maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) level. This method, which allows an improved comparison between different subject or muscle groups in terms of neuromuscular capacity, has been applied to MVC values from the masseter and the anterior temporal muscles (surface EMG) of 21 healthy males, 14 healthy females, and 14 females suffering from myogenous temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Non-corrected MVC values from both muscle groups were larger for the male controls than for the female controls. As the skinfold thickness was smaller for males than for females, these MVC levels did not differ significantly after correction for skinfold thickness. As the skinfold thickness was very similar for the female TMD patients and the controls, the correction method did not appreciably change the lower MVC values of the TMD patients.     

Influence of jaw gape on EMG of jaw muscles and jaw-stretch reflexes

The influence of jaw gapes on jaw-stretch reflexes and jaw muscles activity was studied in order to test the sensitivity of human muscle spindle afferents in various jaw muscles. Twelve healthy men (mean age+/-S.E.M.: 25.0+/-1.2yr) participated in the study. Short-latency excitatory reflex responses were evoked by a custom-made stretch device with the subjects biting on a jaw-bar with their front teeth. Surface electromyographic (sEMG) recordings from right masseter (MAR), and right temporalis (TAR), intramuscular EMG (imEMG) recordings from right lateral pterygoid (LPR) and right anterior digastric (ADR) muscles were made. The reflex at different jaw gapes of 6, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, and 38mm were examined in random order with standard stretch conditions of 1mm displacement and 10ms ramp time. Twenty sweeps of the reflex were recorded at each level with at least 5s interval between each sweep with online monitoring of the visual feed back at 15% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) of each jaw gape from MAR. The results showed that the peak-to-peak amplitude of the jaw-stretch reflex in MAR was significantly higher at 14mm compared to 30, 34, and 38mm (P<0.038), whereas the reflex amplitude in TAR increased with jaw gape until a maximum at 34mm. There was no significant effect of jaw gape in LPR muscles (P=0.825) and no obvious stretch reflex was observed in ADR. When the amplitude was normalised to the pre-stimulus EMG at each jaw gape, the highest normalised amplitude was observed at 14mm jaw gape in MAR, however there was no significant effect of jaw gape on the normalised amplitude in TAR and LPR. In addition, masseter EMG at MVC significantly decreased with the increase of the gapes, i.e. biting at 6, 14, and 18mm gapes had a significantly higher MVC compared to 26, 30, 34, and 38mm (ANOVA: P<0.013). It is concluded that the jaw gapes influence the sensitivity of the human muscle spindle afferents in jaw-closing muscles with a distinct peak, which is within normal jaw gapes during function.     

Gum chewing and jaw muscle fatigue and pains

summary To study possible associations between gum chewing and fatigue and pains in the jaw muscles, eight healthy adults performed prolonged idling, prolonged unilateral chewing of gum, and brief vigorous clenching of the teeth (MVC). Through surface electromyography (EMG), the authors monitored the cumulative (μV.s) as well as the average rates (μV.s⁻¹) of contractile activities in the right and left masseter muscles. During 10 min of idling there was an absence of muscle fatigue and muscle pains when the EMG rates of the right and left masseter muscles were 2% and 3%, respectively, of those required to elicit isometric muscle pains through MVC. During 10 min of right-sided gum chewing at a rate of 1.2 Hz, the majority of subjects (75%) experienced weak jaw muscle fatigue—not jaw muscle pains—when the EMG rates of the right and left masseter muscles were 38% and 19%, respectively, of those required to elicit isometric pains through MVC. In comparison with 10 min of idling, the weak muscle fatigue of 10 min of unilateral gum chewing appeared when the total contractile activities of the right and left masseter muscles were increased by 1664% and 519%, respectively. It seemed as if prolonged unilateral gum chewing and previous pain-releasing MVC caused some sensitization of muscle nociceptors which, in turn, aggravated subsequent isometric jaw muscle pains elicited through MVC. Even though the right masseter muscle was the most frequent site of clinical fatigue and pains, the authors found no evidence supporting the theoretical foundation of the myofascial pain/dysfunction syndrome.     

Differential activity patterns in the masseter muscle under simulated clenching and grinding forces

The aim of this study was to investigate (i) whether the masseter muscle shows differential activation under experimental conditions which simulate force generation during clenching and grinding activities; and (ii) whether there are (a) preferentially active muscle regions or (b) force directions which show enhanced muscle activation. To answer these questions, the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the right masseter muscle was recorded with five intramuscular electrodes placed in two deep muscle areas and in three surface regions. Intraoral force transfer and force measurement were achieved by a central bearing pin device equipped with three strain gauges (SG). The activity distribution in the muscle was recorded in four different mandibular positions (central, left, right, anterior). In each position, maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) was exerted in vertical, posterior, anterior, medial and lateral directions. The investigated muscle regions showed different amount of EMG activity. The relative intensity of the activation, with respect to other regions, changed depending on the task. In other words, the muscle regions demonstrated heterogeneous changes of the EMG pattern for the various motor tasks. The resultant force vectors demonstrated similar amounts in all horizontal bite directions. Protrusive force directions revealed the highest relative activation of the masseter muscle. The posterior deep muscle region seemed to be the most active compartment during the different motor tasks. The results indicate a heterogeneous activation of the masseter muscle under test conditions simulating force generation during clenching and grinding. Protrusively directed bite forces were accompanied by the highest activation in the muscle, with the posterior deep region as the most active area.