Visual input effect on EMG activity of masticatory and postural muscles in healthy and in myopic children

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ABSTRACT

Aim

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the activity of Anterior Temporal, Masseter, Sternocleidomastoid and Anterior
Digastric muscles in response to changes in visual input in subjects with defective vision by means surface electromyography.

Methods

A total of 20 children, aged between 7 and 13 years, were evaluated. In the study group 10 children with myopic defects
were enlisted, selected among patients afferent to the paediatric dentistry clinic. Ten subjects with normal vision, the control group, were
chosen through the Pair Matching procedures, so that each myopic child had a matching age case control. Both study group and control
group patients maintained mandible at rest with teeth apart and were submitted to a 15-sec electromyography (EMG) recording with
closed eyes followed by a 15-sec EMG recording with open eyes. RESULTS/STATISTICS: The Root Mean Square (RMS) values were
elaborated to obtain means and standard deviation. Statistical analysis was undertaken using the Student's T-test for independent
samples. Analysis of the results demonstrated a marked difference in tonic activity of temporal anterior muscles at open eyes between
the myopic and the normal groups.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that in the evaluation of masticatory muscles tenderness, such
as episodic tension type headaches, attention should be paid to vision defects.

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