Determination of Reference Values of the Masseter Muscle Stiffness in Healthy Adults Using Shear Wave Elastography

Anna Olchowy, Mieszko Więckiewicz, Andrzej Malysa and Cyprian Olchowy
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Anna Olchowy: Department of Experimental Dentistry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland
Mieszko Więckiewicz: Department of Experimental Dentistry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland
Andrzej Malysa: Department of Experimental Dentistry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland
Cyprian Olchowy: Department of Oral Surgery, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 17, 1-8

Abstract: Shear wave elastography (SWE) is an objective and reliable method for the assessment of muscles and internal organs. Every organ exhibits its own stiffness characteristics and hence requires individual reference values. We aimed to determine the reference values of stiffness of the masseter muscle in healthy adult individuals using SWE. We analyzed the data of 140 participants (74 men, 66 women) with a median age of 50 years. The overall mean elasticity was 10.67 ± 1.77 kPa. The average values were lower by 2.25 kPa (9.15%) in women compared to men (9.48 ± 1.47 kPa vs. 11.73 ± 1.27 kPa; p < 0.0001). The values of stiffness increased with age, with a correlation coefficient of about 0.35 and a p < 0.0001. Age was a significant influencing factor of masseter muscle stiffness. The left and right masseters had similar stiffness. We conclude that stiffness values are significantly lower in women than in men with a difference of 9%. Age significantly influences the stiffness of masseter muscle, and the values of stiffness increase significantly with age, particularly in men. However, further studies are required to determine the precise ranges of stiffness accounting for age and sex in healthy subjects and people with disorders and conditions of the masticatory system.

Keywords: masseter muscle; masticatory system; normal values; reference values; shear wave elastography (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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