Functional relationships between the muscles of mastication and the muscles of the leg. An electromyographic study.

The authors have shown, with the help of electromyography, the functional relationship which exists between the muscles of mastication and certain muscles of the leg after artificially creating interdental occlusal dysfonction. While the activity of the tibialis anterior was not affected by the alteration in occlusion, that of the peroneus longus and gastrocnemius was markedly changed. This is due to the activation of long muscle chains as a consequence of the activation of complex nervous reflexes.