Normalizing surface electromyographic measures of the masticatory muscles: Comparison of two different methods for clinical purpose

Publication date: Available online 10 August 2016
Source:Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology
Author(s): Andrea Mapelli, Gianluca Martino Tartaglia, Stephen Thaddeus Connelly, Virgilio Ferruccio Ferrario, Claudia Maria De Felicio, Chiarella Sforza
PurposeTo compare a new normalization technique (wax pad, WAX) with the currently utilized cotton roll (COT) method in surface electromyography (sEMG) of the masticatory muscles.MethodssEMG of the masseter and anterior temporalis muscles of 23 subjects was recorded while performing two repetitions of 5s maximum voluntary clenches (MVC) on COT and WAX. For each task, the mean value of sEMG amplitude and its coefficient of variation were calculated, and the differences between the two repetitions computed. The standard error of measurement (SEM) was calculated. For each subject and muscle, the COT-to-WAX maximum activity increment was computed. Participant preference between tasks was also recorded.ResultsWAX MVC tasks had larger maximum muscular activity than COT MVC tasks (P<0.001), with COT-to-WAX maximum activity increments of 61% (temporalis) and 94% (masseter) (P=0.006). WAX MVC had better test-retest repeatability than COT. For both MVC modalities, the mean amplitude (P>0.391) and its coefficient of variation were unchanged (P>0.180). The WAX task was the more comfortable for 18/23 subjects (P=0.007).ConclusionWAX normalization ensures the same stability level of maximum muscular activity as COT normalization, but it is more repeatable, elicits larger maximum muscular contraction, and is felt to be more comfortable by subjects.



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