Evaluation of the function and activity of masticatory muscles using a self-developed wireless surface electromyography system

doi:10.7518/hxkq.2024.2024407

Abstract

Abstract:

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the repeatability and reliability of a self-developed domestic wireless surface electromyography (sEMG) system (Oralmetry) in assessing the activity of the temporalis and masseter muscles to provide theoretical support for its clinical application. Methods Twenty-two volunteers were recruited. Through multiple repeated measurements, the sEMG signals of bilateral anterior temporalis and masseter muscles during maximum voluntary clenching were collected using the self-developed sEMG device, Oralmetry, and two commercial sEMG devices (Zebris and Teethan), filtered, screened, and standardized. Seven sEMG indicators for assessing masticatory muscle function were calculated. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to evaluate the repeatability of the measurements from the three sEMG devices, and statistical analysis was conducted to compare the consistency of the seven sEMG indicators obtained from the devices. Results Among the 22 participants, the ICC values of the repeated measurements from the three sEMG devices ranged from 0.88 to 0.99. The measurements of three sEMG indicators (antero-posterior coeffificient, percentage overlapping coeffificient_MM, and percentage overlapping coeffificient_TA) obtained by Zebris were significantly different from those obtained by Oralmetry and Teethan (P<0.05). No significant differences in the measurements of the seven sEMG indicators were found between Oralmetry and Teethan. Conclusion Oralmetry and the two commercial sEMG devices demonstrated good repeatability in capturing sEMG indicators for evaluating masticatory muscle function. In particular, Oralmetry showed the highest ICC values. All three devices also exhibited good consistency in measuring sEMG indicators, and a high agreement was observed between the two wireless sEMG devices (Oralmetry and Teethan). These findings provide theoretical support for the clinical application of Oralmetry.

Key words: surface electromyography device, electromyographic signals, masticatory muscle, temporalis muscle, masseter muscle

CLC Number:

Li Wenbo, Zhu Yujia, Qin Qingzhao, Shan Shenyao, Gao Zixiang, Wen Aonan, Wang Yong, Zhao Yijiao. Evaluation of the function and activity of masticatory muscles using a self-developed wireless surface electromyography system[J]. West China Journal of Stomatology, 2025, 43(3): 346-353.

Figures/Tables 7

Fig 1

Fig 2

Tab 1

sEMG parameters for masticatory muscle function evaluation included in this study

指标	定义	计算公式
AI^[11]	反映左右侧咬肌与颞肌总电活动的对称性（指标为正值代表右侧肌肉电活动强于左侧，负值则左侧强于右侧）	$∑ i = 1 N R M i + R T i - L M i - L T i ∑ i = 1 N R M i + R T i + L M i + L T i × 100 %$
活动指数^[11]（activity index，Ac）	反映咬肌总电活动与颞肌的协同性（该指标为正值表示咬肌电活动强于颞肌，负值则表示颞肌强于咬肌）	$∑ i = 1 N R M i + L M i - R T i - L T i ∑ i = 1 N R M i + L M i + R T i + L T i × 100 %$
百分比重叠系数（颞肌）^[12]（percentage overlapping coeffificient_TA，POC_TA）	反映左右侧颞肌肉电活动的对称性（当肌肉完全对称性收缩时，POC理论上可达100%）	$1 - ∑ i = 1 N R T i - L T i ∑ i = 1 N R T i + L T i × 100 %$
百分比重叠系数（咬肌）^[12]（percentage overlapping coeffificient_MM，POC_MM）	反映左右侧咬肌肉电活动的对称性	$1 - ∑ i = 1 N R M i - L M i ∑ i = 1 N R M i + L M i × 100 %$
TC	反映了下颌侧向偏斜的趋势（正值代表下颌有向右偏斜的趋势，负值代表下颌左偏趋势）	$∑ i = 1 N R T i - L T i - R M i - L M i ∑ i = 1 N R M i + L M i + R T i + L T i × 100 %$
前后系数^[10]（antero-posterior coeffificient，APC）	反映咬肌和颞肌的前后向平衡性（APC数值越大，平衡性越好）	$1 - ∑ i = 1 N R M i + L M i - R T i - L T i ∑ i = 1 N R M i + L M i + R T i + L T i × 100 %$
相对肌肉总活动（integrated muscle activity，IMP）	肌肉总活动指在一定时间段内，肌电信号的振幅随时间的积分。相对肌肉总活动为相对于标准化测试的肌肉总活动的百分比	$∫ A 1 (t) d t ∫ A 2 (t) d t × 100 %$

Tab 1

Fig 3

Tab 2

Tab 3

Tab 4

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指标	平均值	标准差	最大值	最小值
AI	-2.07	6.64	6.69	-26.17
Ac	-11.12	11.75	6.41	-39.66
POC_TA	83.39	3.95	87.07	68.49
POC_MM	83.26	3.45	88.13	71.64
TC	-0.72	6.40	11.10	-17.59
APC	82.89	7.94	90.45	59.31
IMP	99.85	20.48	139.46	63.26

指标	F值/卡方值	P值
AI	0.36^△	0.83
Ac	0.31^#	0.74
POC_TA	16.64^△	<0.01*
POC_MM	18.91^△	<0.01*
TC	0.29^#	0.75
APC	9.36^△	<0.01*
IMP	0.26^#	0.77

指标	Oralmetry & Zebris两两比较结果		Oralmetry & Teethan两两比较结果		Zebris & Teethan 两两比较结果
指标	T值/Z值	P值	T值/Z值	P值	T值/Z值	P值
AI	0.37^△	0.37	0.75^#	0.75	0.24^△	0.24
Ac	0.91^△	0.91	0.13^△	0.13	0.19^△	0.19
POC_TA	<0.01^△	<0.01*	0.12^#	0.12	0.02^#	0.02*
POC_MM	<0.01^△	<0.01*	0.51^△	0.51	<0.01^△	<0.01*
TC	0.73^△	0.73	0.52^#	0.52	0.88^△	0.88
APC	0.02^#	0.02*	0.39^△	0.39	<0.01^#	<0.01*
IMP	0.41^△	0.41	0.86^#	0.86	0.32^△	0.32

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