INFLUENCE OF STABILIZATION OCCLUSAL SPLINT ON CRANIOCERVICAL RELATIONSHIP .2. ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of stabilization occ lusal splints on electromyographic (EMG) activity of sternocleidomasto id and trapezius muscles in subjects with spasm in the mentioned muscl es. A full-arch maxillary stabilization occlusal splint was made for e ach of the 15 subjects. In the sternocleidomastoid muscle, tonic and s aliva swallowing EMG activity decreased significantly with the splint, whereas maximal clenching activity did not change. In the trapezius m uscle, no significant changes were observed with the occlusal splint. The different pattern in both muscles during tonic and swallowing EMG activity with the splint is attributed to differences in the synaptic inputs to the respective motoneuron pools, suggesting that a different ial modulation of the motor neuron pools may exist of both muscles, of peripheral and/or central origin.