Use of cryotherapy to enhance mouth opening in patients with cerebral palsy |
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Authors: | Maria Teresa Botti Rodrigues dos Santos DDSc PhD Leda Magalhaes de Oliveira MSc |
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Affiliation: | Division of Dentistry for Persons with Disabilities, Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul, São Paulo, Brazil;Division of Reumatology, Physical Therapy, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil. |
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Abstract: | This study was conducted to assess the effect of cryotherapy on masseter spasticity on mouth opening, which is required for oral hygiene and dental treatment. The inter-incisal distance was measured before cryotherapy in 24 patients with cerebral palsy who had spasticity of the tetraparesis type. Ice was then applied on the skin surface with sliding movements over the masseter, bilaterally for one minute. Interincisal distance was then measured again. The results showed a significant increase of the inter-incisal distance after the application of cold to the masseter. We conclude that the action of cryotherapy on the masseter muscle produced a temporary reduction of spasticity, facilitating access to the occlusal and palatal surfaces of the maxillary molars. This improved access can be useful during dental treatment as well as preventive dental care such as oral hygiene. |
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Keywords: | spasticity cerebral palsy masseter masticatory muscles cryotherapy |
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