Effect of passive jaw opening on the electromyographic activity of the temporalis, masseter, digastric, and infrahyoid muscles in healthy adults

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the surface electromyography (EMG) activity of the temporalis, masseter, digastric, and infrahyoid muscles during passive jaw opening in healthy adults.

Methods: The EMG activity of the masseter, temporalis, digastric anterior belly, and infrahyoid muscles on the right side was recorded during the four jaw-opening tasks: active opening to 20 mm (AO20); active opening to 40 mm (AO40); passive opening to 40 mm with a rubber mouth prop on the right posterior teeth (POR40); and passive opening to 40 mm with a mouth prop on the left posterior teeth (POL40).

Results: The EMG amplitude of the digastric anterior belly and infrahyoid muscles in either POL40 or POR40 was significantly less than that in AO20 or AO40, respectively.

Conclusion: Passive jaw opening reduces the EMG activity of the digastric and infrahyoid muscles significantly and could help reduce the load on these muscles during prolonged mouth-opening conditions.

Keywords: Electromyography; masseter muscle; neck muscles; temporal muscle.