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Maximal bite force and surface EMG in patients with myasthenia gravis
Author(s) -
Weijnen Florence G.,
van der Bilt Andries,
Wokke John H. J.,
Kuks Jan B. M.,
van der Glas Hilbert W.,
Bosman Frederik
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-4598(200011)23:11<1694::aid-mus4>3.0.co;2-h
Subject(s) - myasthenia gravis , bite force quotient , masticatory force , medicine , electromyography , weakness , muscle weakness , masseter muscle , repetitive nerve stimulation , anesthesia , surgery , physical medicine and rehabilitation , anatomy , orthodontics
Masticatory muscle strength was quantified in patients with bulbar myasthenia gravis and compared with that of patients with ocular myasthenia gravis, patients in clinical remission (whether or not pharmacological) who previously suffered from bulbar myasthenia gravis, and healthy subjects. Maximal bite force and maximal activity of the masseter and temporalis muscles and of the submental muscle complex were measured. Bite force was decreased in the patients with bulbar myasthenia gravis, but was normal in the patients in the clinical remission group and in the ocular group. These findings were consistent with the results of electromyographic data. Although subjective reports of masticatory muscle weakness provide valuable information, quantitative measurements provide more information about the degree of muscle weakness of individual muscles. This is especially important for longitudinal evaluation of therapy in individual patients and for pharmacotherapeutic research. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 23: 1694–1699, 2000.