Electromyographic evaluation of the effect of ultrasound with muscle stretching in temporomandibular disorder: a clinical trial

Jalusa Boufleur,Lais Chiodelli,Lilian Gerdi Kittel Ries,Eliane Castilhos Rodrigues Corrêa,Ana Maria Toniolo Da Silva

doi:10.1590/1677-3225v13n2a14

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the electromyographic activity of masticatory muscles in women with myogenic or mixed TMD treated with ultrasound and ultrasound associated with stretching. Methods: Sixteen women with myogenic or mixed TMD, according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorder (RDC/TMD), participated in the study. The patients were evaluated using surface electromyography (sEMG) of the masseter and anterior temporalis muscles, during maximum intercuspation, before and immediately after application of therapeutic resources. All patients were treated by ultrasound (US), ultrasound associated with stretching and placebo ultrasound, by turns, once a week with a one-week minimum interval between them. Results: There was greater symmetry of the masseter muscle electrical activity after ultrasound associated with stretching (p=0.03). The electromyographic values for the maximum intercuspation as well as the symmetry of anterior temporal muscle (p=0.47, p=0.84, p=0.84) and anteroposterior coefficient (p=0.07, p=0.84, p=0.57) showed no statistically significant difference after the intervention, placebo, ultrasound and ultrasound with stretching. Conclusions: These results indicate that a single application of ultrasound and ultrasound associated with stretching were not able to modify the activity pattern of the masticatory muscles during maximum intercuspation, except the symmetry of the masseter muscle that increased with the last, in women with myogenic or mixed temporomandibular disorder.

Highlights

IntroductionUltrasound is one the physical therapeutic modalities used in the Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) treatment
Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a multifactorial condition characterized by symptoms, most of them painful, which affect the stomatognathic system, including the ligaments, muscles and the temporomandibular joint[1,2].In the TMD treatment, non-invasive therapies such as physical therapy are recommend, which aims at relief the of musculoskeletal pain, improvement of inflammation and restoration of oral function[3,4].Ultrasound is one the physical therapeutic modalities used in the TMD treatment
The pain relief and mandibular range of movement increase obtained with the physical therapy, allows for a more effective and faster effect of the speech therapy and dental treatments on the functional restoration of the stomatognathic system . 12-13 Thereby, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the immediate effect of ultrasound, ultrasound combined with stretching of the mandibular elevator muscles and placebo on the activation pattern and symmetry of these muscles in women with myogenic and mixed TMD

Summary

Introduction

Ultrasound is one the physical therapeutic modalities used in the TMD treatment. It promotes pain relief and muscle relaxation, since muscle hyperactivity, 17513 Electromyographic evaluation of the effect of ultrasound with muscle stretching in temporomandibular disorder: a clinical trial considered one of the TMD etiologic factors, may lead to the pain-muscle spasm cycle[5,6]. Increase in the musculotendinous length and decrease of the muscle stiffness may be achieved by stretching[7]. The restoration of the musculotendinous length, associated to pain relief, may reflect on the masticatory muscle electromyographic (EMG) potentials during a certain activity, with the improvement of the muscular balance

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Conclusion