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Use of cryotherapy to enhance mouth opening in patients with cerebral palsy
Author(s) -
Santos Maria Teresa Botti Rodrigues,
Oliveira Leda Magalhaes
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
special care in dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.328
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1754-4505
pISSN - 0275-1879
DOI - 10.1111/j.1754-4505.2004.tb01698.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cryotherapy , cerebral palsy , physical medicine and rehabilitation , surgery
This study was conducted to assess the effect of cryotherapy on masseter spasticity on mouth opening, which is required for oral hygiene and dental treatment. The inter‐incisal distance was measured before cryotherapy in 24 patients with cerebral palsy who had spasticity of the tetraparesis type. Ice was then applied on the skin surface with sliding movements over the masseter, bilaterally for one minute. Interincisal distance was then measured again. The results showed a significant increase of the inter‐incisal distance after the application of cold to the masseter. We conclude that the action of cryotherapy on the masseter muscle produced a temporary reduction of spasticity, facilitating access to the occlusal and palatal surfaces of the maxillary molars. This improved access can be useful during dental treatment as well as preventive dental care such as oral hygiene.