The influence of head and neck posture training on the electrical activity of the temporalis and masseter muscles in patients with temporomandibular disorders

doi:10.19439/j.sjos.2025.06.014

Abstract

Abstract: PURPOSE: To explore the effects of head and neck posture training on the electrical activity of the temporalis and masseter muscles in patients with myogenic temporomandibular disorder(TMD) under different head and neck postures. METHODS: Fourteen patients with TMD who attended Hainan West Central Hospital from July 2022 to February 2023 with presence of head forward posture were selected for the study. All patients received head and neck posture training for 4 weeks, 2-3 times per week for 30 min each time. Changes in the electrical activity of bilateral temporalis and masseter muscles were compared between pre- and post-intervention patients in the natural relaxed position, the teeth lightly touching position, and the neutral head and neck position. Mandibular function, pain intensity, and maximal pain-free mouth opening were assessed for pre- and post-comparisons. RESULTS: In TMD patients, the electromyographic amplitude of the anterior fasciculus of the left temporalis muscle and the right masseter muscle was higher in the natural relaxed position than in the neutral head and neck position (3.4±1.4 vs. 2.5±1.0, 2.4±1.6 vs. 1.8±1.1, P<0.05). After head and neck posture training, the patients had lower basal EMG amplitudes of bilateral temporalis and left masseter muscles in the natural relaxed position and the neutral head and neck position compared with the pre-treatment position, and the mandibular function scores and pain were significantly improved(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Different head and neck postures can affect the basal electromyographic amplitude of the masticatory muscles in patients with myogenic TMD, and postural training can effectively relax the temporalis and masseter muscles in patients with TMD, resulting in pain reduction and promoting functional recovery.

Key words: Temporomandibular disorder, Head forward posture, Head and neck posture training, Surface electromyography, Masticatory muscles

CLC Number:

R782.6

Lin Minghui, Yang Yang, Wu Zhigang, Cai Bin, Xu Lili. The influence of head and neck posture training on the electrical activity of the temporalis and masseter muscles in patients with temporomandibular disorders[J]. Shanghai Journal of Stomatology, 2025, 34(6): 636-640.

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