Mean Electromyographic Activity Research Articles

Masseter muscle activity in denture wearers with superior and poor masticatory performance

A cross-sectional study tested the hypothesis that denture wearers with superior and poor chewing ability use similar masseter muscle effort and biting forces during mastication. Masticatory performance tests on the preferred chewing side and swallowing threshold tests were conducted with peanuts and carrots in 70 denture wearers, 35 with superior (SP) (mean 46.3%) and 35 with poor (PP) (mean 30.7%) masticatory performance. Right and left masseter muscle electromyographic (EMG) activity was recorded during the masticatory tests and peak bite force during chewing was estimated from the bite force--EMG ratios on guided maximal biting trials. Bite force under maximal pressure did not differ significantly between the two groups. Neither the total mean EMG activity of the preferred and nonpreferred side masseter muscles nor the mean peak biting forces exerted by the two groups differed significantly (p > 0.05). This was true when denture wearers restricted chewing to their preferred side for a given number of strokes or chewed the test food freely until ready to swallow. The only significant differences (p < 0.05) were evident in the ratios of the preferred to nonpreferred side masseter EMG activity during chewing. The ratios were 1.2 for peanuts and 1.3 for carrots in the SP group compared to 1.8 for both foods in the PP group. Similar patterns of bilateral activity in the SP group and unilateral activity in the PP group were evident for the swallowing threshold tests. The results indicated that application of more equivalent force by the right and left masseter muscles during unilateral chewing is consistent with improved chewing ability in denture wearers.

Effects of stair-stepping exercise direction and cadence on EMG activity of selected lower extremity muscle groups.

Step ergometry has become a popular treatment mode in cardiovascular fitness and knee rehabilitation programs. The following study describes the effects of forward stair stepping at 35 and 95 steps/minute and forward and retrograde stair stepping at 60 steps/minute on the mean electromyographic (EMG) activity of the gluteus maximus, rectus femoris, vastus medialis, semimembranosus/semitendinosus, and gastrocnemius muscles. Thirty-three subjects without prior lower extremity pathology participated in the study. Analysis of variance was used to compare mean EMG activity during the knee extension phase of the different stepping conditions. Significant differences (p < 0.05) in mean EMGs of gluteus maximus, rectus femoris, vastus medialis, and gastrocnemius were noted across all cadences. The semimembranosus/semitendinosus EMG activity displayed a single significant difference between the cadences of 35 and 95. The comparison between forward and retrograde stepping identified only one significant difference in mean EMG (semimembranosus/semitendinosus). The effects of cadence on EMG activity should be considered when developing conditioning or rehabilitation programs for the lower extremity. Faster cadences result in increased peak activity of shorter duration for the gluteus maximus, quadriceps, and gastrocnemius. There is no apparent difference in EMG activity of the hamstrings due to cadence. Also, noting the minimal activation that occurs, stair-stepping exercise would not be recommended for strengthening of the hamstrings musculature.

Muscular activity in simulated light work among subjects with frequent neck-shoulder pain

An experimental study was performed to investigate differences in shoulder muscle activity between subjects with and those without neck-shoulder pain. Ten female bank cashiers with frequent neck-shoulder pain (cases) and ten nonsymptomatic referents (matched by age, body size and work experience) with similar work performed a simulation of one of their ordinary main tasks. Surface electromyography (EMG) was recorded on the upper trapezius and rhomboideus/erector spinae muscles. The mean EMG activities were similar in both groups. The cases had a greater number of short rest periods (less than 2% of the maximal activity) for their trapezius muscles during the work cycles. Lowering the height of the service counter by 25 cm reduced the mean electromyographic activity and the duration of the work periods (over 2% of the maximal activity) in the right trapezius in both cases and referents.

Recruitment patterns in the rat hindlimb muscle during swimming

Cycle periods and electromyographic (EMG) burst durations of selected extensors and flexors are shorter during swimming than during running at 27 m/min, while the relative ON-OFF timing of these interrelationships are similar. The mean EMG activities of the tibialis anterior and adductor longus were higher and the soleus and medial gastrocnemius were lower during swimming than during running. Both fast and slow extensors are activated during both forms of locomotion, thus demonstrating that there is not a selective recruitment of fast or selective inhibition of slow ankle extensors during swimming as measures of muscle blood flow have suggested.

Clinical and electromyographic effects of biofeedback training in mandibular dysfunction.

Twenty patients with mandibular dysfunction, 10 acute and 10 chronic, were trained with electromyographic biofeedback from either m. masseter or m. frontalis area. The electromyographic activity in both muscle areas were recorded during six training sessions. The mean electromyographic activity decreased significantly within the sessions for both muscle areas, progressively more often for the m. masseter area. The activity did not decrease significantly between sessions for any muscle area. The clinical and subjective symptoms of mandibular dysfunction improved significantly after the training. No differences, electromyographically or clinically, among acute, chronic, m. masseter area, or m. frontalis area feedback patients could be observed. No correlation between decrease in electromyographic activity and symptoms could be established. Since a simplistic neuromuscular learning model for biofeedback training gains little support from these results, alternative views are discussed.