High-density EMG reveals altered masseter muscle activation during unilateral and bilateral jaw clenching tasks in people with chronic neck pain

Background: Altered behavior of masticatory muscles has been observed in people with temporomandibular disorders. Moreover, changes in neck muscle activation has been observed in people with temporomandibular disorders. On the contrary, little is known about the behavior of the masticatory muscles in people with chronic neck pain, although, it could be hypothesized that altered behavior of masticatory muscles would be identified in people with chronic neck pain, considering the close neurophysiological, biomechanical, and functional associations between the cervical and orofacial regions.
Source: Manual Therapy - Category: Physiotherapy Authors: Source Type: research