Influence of awake bruxism behaviors on fatigue of the masticatory muscles in healthy young adults.

The present cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the relationship between awake bruxism and fatigue of masticatory muscles in healthy young adults. For this purpose, 121 graduate students participated in this study. Frequency of awake bruxism was collected for 7 consecutive days by ecological momentary assessment (EMA) using an online survey (mentimeter). Muscle fatigue was tested one day after EMA assessment, which consisted of voluntarily and continuously clenching at 30% (kgf/cm2) of maximum bite force (MBF) until exhaustion. The percentage of change in MBF after the clenching task, as compared to the MBF before the clenching task was measured. The average frequency of awake bruxism was 45.5% during 7 days. Sustained clenching resulted in a significant reduction in MBF values in the total sample (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, no significant correlation was found between frequency of awake bruxism behaviors and percent of change in MBF and endurance time during the fatigue test. Therefore, it can be concluded that young healthy adults present a relatively high frequency of awake bruxism behaviors that do not seem to impact the degree of masticatory muscle fatigue.

Influence of awake bruxism behaviors on fatigue of the masticatory muscles in healthy young adults

Abstract The present cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the relationship between awake bruxism and fatigue of masticatory muscles in healthy young adults. For this purpose, 121 graduate students participated in this study. Frequency of awake bruxism was collected for 7 consecutive days by ecological momentary assessment (EMA) using an online survey (mentimeter). Muscle fatigue was tested one day after EMA assessment, which consisted of voluntarily and continuously clenching at 30% (kgf/cm2) of maximum bite force (MBF) until exhaustion. The percentage of change in MBF after the clenching task, as compared to the MBF before the clenching task was measured. The average frequency of awake bruxism was 45.5% during 7 days. Sustained clenching resulted in a significant reduction in MBF values in the total sample (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, no significant correlation was found between frequency of awake bruxism behaviors and percent of change in MBF and endurance time during the fatigue test. Therefore, it can be concluded that young healthy adults present a relatively high frequency of awake bruxism behaviors that do not seem to impact the degree of masticatory muscle fatigue.

Determination of normative values for mechanical quantitative sensory tests in the orofacial region / Determinação de valores normativos para testes quantitativos sensoriais mecânicos na região orofacial

Um novo conceito de tratamento de síndromes dolorosas baseada em mecanismos de dor é baseado na hipótese de que diferentes sinais clínicos refletem alterações em diversos mecanismos de geração de dor. Para analisar estes mecanismos, em 2006, o DFNS (German Research Network on Neuropathic Pain) criou um protocolo padronizado de testes quantitativos sensoriais (QST) para uma avaliação quantitativa de mecanismos de geração de dor, criando valores de referência para mão, pé e face (músculo masseter). No entanto, ainda há falta de valores de referência para alguns testes quantitativos em diversas importantes regiões orofaciais como o músculo temporal anterior e a mucosa oral. Este estudo buscou determinar valores normativos dos QSTs nessas regiões e avaliou a eficácia de um estímulo condicionante (CPM) na percepção da dor por meio de dois estímulos teste (PPT e MPT). 60 sujeitos saudáveis (30 homens/30 mulheres) foram examinados com os testes de sensibilidade tátil (MDT), limiar de dor mecânico (MPT), somação temporal (WUR), limiar de dor à pressão (PPT) e condicionamento modulatório da dor (CPM), afim de determinar valores normativos na população. Os pacientes foram examinados em sessão única por um único examinador treinado sob o protocolo desenvolvido pelo DFNS. Para avaliação estatística dos dados da CPM uma análise de variância (ANOVA) foi utilizada comparando os fatores sítio (2 níveis), tempo (2 níveis) e sexo (2 níveis) entre os dois estímulos teste (MPT e PPT). Os valores de referência para QST foram comparados por uma ANOVA multi-vias considerando os fatores sítio (3 níveis), lado (2 níveis), e sexo (2 níveis) (α=5%). MDT e MPT mostraram efeitos principais de sítio (p<0,001), em que a mucosa apresentou os maiores limiares para MDT e menos limiares para MPT, quando comparada à mão e temporal anterior. PPT demonstrou efeitos principais de sítio e sexo. Limiares de dor à pressão do músculo temporal foram menores comparados com a mão (p<0,001) e homens apresentaram maiores limiares que as mulheres em todos os sítios. O teste WUR não apresentou nenhum efeito de sexo, sítio ou lado examinado. Os dois estímulos teste da CPM (MPT e PPT) foram capazes de produzir maiores limiares quando comparados aos estímulos não condicionados (p<0,001). Um maior número significativo de sujeitos respondeu positivamente a estimulação CPM no músculo temporal (p=0,002) para ambos estímulos teste. O estudo concluiu que o perfil sensorial avaliados por meio de QSTs pode ser influenciado pela região de exame e sexo. O efeito da CPM foi igualmente positivo para ambos estímulos teste. No entanto, seu grau de resposta depende da região avaliada.(AU)

Modern concepts for the treatment of pain patients are based on the hypothesis that different clinical signs and symptoms reflect different underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of pain generation. To analyze these mechanisms, in 2006, the DFNS (German Research Network on Neuropathic Pain) developed a standardized protocol of quantitative sensory testing (QST) for a quantitative evaluation of pain generating mechanisms, creating reference values for hand, foot and face (masseter muscle) sites. However, there is a lack of orofacial reference values for the temporalis muscle and maxillary gingiva. This study aimed to determine reference values for QST protocol in the orofacial region and evaluate the effectiveness of two test stimuli during conditioned pain modulation (CPM) test. Sixty participants (30 men/30 women) were examined through the tests of mechanical detection (MDT), mechanical pain (MPT), wind-up ratio (WUR), pressure pain threshold (PPT) and conditioned pain modulation (CPM), to determine reference values in healthy subjects. Individuals were examined in a single session by a trained examiner under the protocol developed by the DFNS (2006). The CPM statistical evaluation was done by a multi-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) within the factors site (2 levels), time (2 levels), and sex (2 levels); comparing the absolute values of MPT and PPT. QST reference values comparison was made by a multi-way withinsubjects ANOVA performed considering the factors site (3 levels), side (2 levels) and sex (2 levels) (α=5%). MDT and MPT showed main effects of site (p<0.001), where the maxillary gingiva presented the highest thresholds for MDT and lowest MPT thresholds. In addition, PPT values of the anterior temporalis were lower than the hand (p<0.001). PPT (p<0.001) showed main effects of sex, where men presented higher thresholds. WUR did not show any main effects of sex, site or side. Both CPM test-stimulus (PPT and MPT) were capable of producing significantly higher thresholds during conditioning stimulus when compared to baseline thresholds (p<0.001). Temporalis CPM respondents were significantly higher (p=0.002) than hand respondents for both QSTs. The study concluded that orofacial QST profile of healthy participants could be influenced by the test site and sex. The CPM does not differ considering PPT and MPT as test stimuli, but the test site can influence its effects.(AU)