Abstracts of the 22nd Meeting of the Interuniversity Institute of Myology
Vol. 36 No. s1 (2026): Abstract book of the Padua Days on Muscle and Mobility Medicine 2026
https://doi.org/10.4081/ejtm.2026.15111

Abstract 112 | Comparative sEMG analysis of masticatory muscles in temporomandibular disorders and healthy subjects

Maria Gloria Nardi, Federica Gariboldi, Beatrice Sfondrini, Paola Tessera, Andrea Scribante, Maria Francesca Sfondrini | Unit of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, Section of Dentistry, Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.

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Received: 2 March 2026
Published: 2 March 2026
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2026 Padua Days on Muscle and Mobility Medicine | Session 3: ssEMG evaluation in dentistry
temporomandibular disorders, surface electromyography, masticatory muscles

Authors

Maria Gloria Nardi
mariagloria.nardi01@universitadipavia.it
Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are a frequent source of non-dental orofacial pain, influenced by multifactorial biopsychosocial mechanisms. Surface electromyography (sEMG) of the masticatory muscles provides objective and minimally invasive metrics useful for characterizing neuromuscular alterations associated with TMD. The aim of this experimental study was to compare a group of patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) to a group of healthy controls using a standardized surface electromyography (sEMG) protocol, assessing measurements repeatability. Thirty participants (15 TMD patients and 15 healthy subjects) underwent two sEMG recordings separated by 7–14 days. Electromyographic activity of the masseter and anterior temporalis muscles was collected under both static (clenching) and dynamic (unilateral chewing) conditions. Intragroup findings indicate good intra-session and inter-session repeatability of the sEMG protocol in both healthy individuals and TMD patients. Inter-group analyses were performed to determine whether surface electromyography could discriminate healthy subjects from patients with temporomandibular disorders. The following indices showed statistically significant intergroup differences (p < 0.05) during the dynamic assessment: ellipse area, impact, number of chewing cycles, frequency and module index. Surface electromyography appears to be a potentially useful tool for monitoring muscle function over time both in healthy individuals and TMD patients; however, it did not demonstrate sufficient sensitivity to reliably differentiate healthy subjects from TMD patients. Further validation is required, including expanding the sample size, improving sample stratification and analyzing sEMG characteristics associated with different TMD subtypes.

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1.
Nardi MG. Abstract 112 | Comparative sEMG analysis of masticatory muscles in temporomandibular disorders and healthy subjects: Maria Gloria Nardi, Federica Gariboldi, Beatrice Sfondrini, Paola Tessera, Andrea Scribante, Maria Francesca Sfondrini | Unit of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, Section of Dentistry, Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy. Eur J Transl Myol [Internet]. 2026 Mar. 2 [cited 2026 Apr. 22];36(s1). Available from: https://www.pagepressjournals.org/bam/article/view/15111
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