Avaliação eletromiográfica dos músculos trapézio e sua relação com o masseter durante a mastigação e após execução de exercícios físicos

Abstract

The body’s harmony is essential for maintaining the proper functioning of organs and systems. The stomatognathic system, composed of the articular, muscular, and skeletal systems, as well as teeth, vessels, nerves, and glands, plays a fundamental role in this balance. Its actions and functions can directly influence mastication through changes in mandibular position, accompanied by reflexes in the posture of the head, neck, and shoulders Considering that muscle action results from the interaction of coordinated forces, this study investigated the possible correlation between trapezius muscle fatigue and the electrical activity of the masseter muscle, which is responsible for masticatory movements. Thus, this study aimed to investigate, through electromyographic examination, the electrical activity of the masseter muscle under conditions of trapezius muscle fatigue. The study, which had a basic, deductive, and mixed (quantitative and qualitative) design, was conducted at the Electromyography and Posturography Laboratory (LABEP) of the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU) with 20 volunteers equally divided between men and women. Data were collected to evaluate the electrical activity of the masseter and trapezius muscles before and after trapezius fatigue. Statistical analysis with the Friedman test revealed significant differences between pre- and post-fatigue conditions, especially in the male group (p<0.05). It was concluded that trapezius fatigue affects the masseter, highlighting the relationship between postural balance and chewing and emphasizing the importance of myofascial chains in functional rehabilitation.