Electromyographic response in inferior head of human lateral pterygoid muscle to anteroposterior postural change during opening and closing of mouth.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of anteroposterior postural change on electromyography (EMG) activity in the lateral pterygoid muscle. Subjects consisted of 7 patients attending this hospital for close examination. The inferior heads of the lateral pterygoid and masseter muscles were chosen as evaluation sites. For the EMG recordings, the test movement was opening and closing of the mouth; postural conditions were the upright and supine positions. The mean value of EMG activity in the inferior head of the lateral pterygoid muscle was calculated. During mouth-opening in 5 out of the 7 patients, and during mouth-closing in 2 out of the 7 patients, mean value of EMG activity differed significantly with body position. Mean value of EMG activity was reduced in the supine position. The results revealed that anteroposterior postural change affected mean value of EMG activity in this muscle.