Behavior analysis of electromyographic activity of the masseter muscle in sleep bruxers

Amorim, César Ferreira; Giannasi, Lilian Chrystiane; Ferreira, Luciano Maia Alves; Magini, Márcio; Oliveira, Claudia S.; de Oliveira, Luis Vicente Franco; Hirata, Tamotsu; Politti, Fabiano

doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2008.12.002

« Previous Next »Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies
Volume 14, Issue 3 , Pages 234-238, July 2010

Behavior analysis of electromyographic activity of the masseter muscle in sleep bruxers

César Ferreira Amorim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering (FEG), São Paulo State University - UNESP, Guaratingueta - SP, Brazil
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +55 12 3942 4736.
Lilian Chrystiane Giannasi
- Institute of Research and Development IP&D, University of Vale do Paraíba – UNIVAP, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil
Luciano Maia Alves Ferreira
- Biomechanics of Movement Laboratory, University Center Claretiano – CEUCLAR, Batatais, SP, Brazil
Márcio Magini
- Institute of Research and Development IP&D, University of Vale do Paraíba – UNIVAP, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil
- Current address: Universidade Camilo Castelo Branco, Núcleo Parque Tecnológico, Rodovia Presidente Dutra, Km 138, Eugênio de Melo, São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil, 12247-004.
Claudia S. Oliveira
- Rehabilitation Sciences Master's Program, Nove de Julho University – UNINOVE, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Luis Vicente Franco de Oliveira
- Rehabilitation Sciences Master's Program, Nove de Julho University – UNINOVE, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Tamotsu Hirata
- Department of Mechanical Engineering (FEG), São Paulo State University - UNESP, Guaratingueta - SP, Brazil
Fabiano Politti
- Department of Anatomy, University of Campinas (Unicamp), Brazil

Received 18 February 2008; received in revised form 27 November 2008; accepted 28 December 2008.

Summary

The effects of occlusal splint on the electric activity of masseter were studied in 15 women who presented sleep bruxism using surface electromyography. Sleep bruxism was defined by its clinical characteristics. The signal acquisition was done during mandible occlusion without clenching and maximum voluntary contraction in two situations. The first was after a workday without using the occlusal splint; and the second, after a sleeping night using occlusal splints. Evaluating masseter muscles during mandible occlusion without clenching, it could be observed that lower values were noticed after splint wearing in both sides. The same results were verified in maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). These results confirmed that the use of occlusal splints reduced the electromyographic activity of the right and left masseters, showing its myorelaxing effect.

Keywords: Electromyography, Sleep bruxism, Masseter muscle