The Association between Masticatory Muscles Activation and Foot Pressure Distribution in Older Female Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Giuseppe Messina, Alessandra Amato (), Federica Rizzo, Ligia Juliana Dominguez, Angelo Iovane, Mario Barbagallo and Patrizia Proia
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Giuseppe Messina: Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Alessandra Amato: Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Federica Rizzo: Posturalab Research Institute, 90144 Palermo, Italy
Ligia Juliana Dominguez: Geriatric Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Palermo, 90100 Palermo, Italy
Angelo Iovane: Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Mario Barbagallo: Geriatric Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Palermo, 90100 Palermo, Italy
Patrizia Proia: Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 6, 1-10

Abstract: The association between craniofacial muscles and postural control is well-known because of numerous anatomical connections. However, there are a few conflicting studies that correlated the activity of the masticatory muscles with the distribution of body weight pressure on the feet, which can strongly influence balance. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to evaluate the association between the masseter and temporalis muscle activity and foot pressure distribution. Fifty-two women were recruited, and baropodometric and EMG analyses of the masseter and temporalis baseline activities were analyzed. An ipsilateral association was found between the right temporal muscle activity and the right rearfoot load (r = 0.29, p < 0.05) and right forefoot load (r = −0.29; p < 0.05), as well as the percentage of muscle activation of the right masseter muscles with the percentage of pressure on the right forefoot (r = 0.31, p < 0.05) and right rearfoot (r = −0.31, p < 0.05). While further studies are needed, an ipsilateral association was found between masticatory muscles and foot pressure distribution.

Keywords: exercise therapy; postural balance; dental occlusion; muscles; surface electromyography; aging; neurology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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