Acute effect of created muscle fatigue in cervical region on temporomandibular joint in healthy women

Purpose: The aim of study was to investigate acute effects of neck muscles fatigue, on masticator muscle pain threshold, endurance and maximum pain-free mouth opening. Methods: 14 healty women aged between 20-25 years (Mean±SD: 21.7±1.18) were included in the study. Initially, lack of teeth and bruxism status and demographic information of cases were recorded. Before fatigue protocole, masticator muscle pain threshold, maximum pain-free mouth opening and fatigue level of masticator muscles by 5 minutes chewing gum test were evaluated. After that, participants performed fatigue protocole consisting of head flexion and extension at prone position until take 10 points from Modify Borg Scale. And all the tests were re-performed after fatigue protocole. Results: After fatigue protocol, pain threshold of masseter muscles, right temporomandibular joint and left temporalis muscle, maximum pain-free mouth opening and chewing endurance were reduced (p0.05). Discussion: In our study, we identified that neck fatigue negatively affects some parameteres of masticator muscle immediately. Fatigue of the neck muscles are thought to predispose temporomandibular joint dysfunction.