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Abstract
This purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of plantar inputs on both the upper half muscle activity (anterior temporal, masseter, digastric, sternocleidomastoid, upper and lower trapezius, cervical) and the body posture, by means of electromyography (EMG) and vertical force platform, respectively. Twenty four (24) healthy adults, between the ages of 24 and 31 years (25.3±1.9), with no history of craniomandibular disorder or systemic musculoskeletal dysfunction, were randomly divided into two groups: test group (fourteen subjects) and control group (ten subjects). A first recording session (T0) measured the baseline EMG and postural patterns of both groups. After this session, the test group wore test shoes with insoles that stimulated the plantar surfaces, while the control group wore placebo shoes. After one hour, a second set of measurements (T1) were performed. Significant differences between the groups at baseline were observed in the left anterior temporal, left cervical, and left upper trapezius, as well as at T1 in the left anterior temporal and right upper trapezius (p<0.05). Within-test group analysis showed a significant increase of the right upper trapezius activity (p<0.05), whereas no changes were found by within-control group analysis. Lower risk of asymmetric muscle patterns and postural blindness in the test group compared to the control group was observed. Further studies are warranted to investigate the short and long-term effects of this type of insole, in patients with both craniomandibular-cervical and lower extremity disorders.
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Notes on contributors
Fabio Ciuffolo
Dr. Fabio Ciuffolo received his D.D.S. degree in 2001 from the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Chieti, Italy. In 1999, he became a a staff member in the Department of Orthodontics and Gnathology, School of Dentistry, at the same university. Since 2001, he has been an assistant in the same department. Currently, he is in the first year of his Ph.D. doing research on the relationships between vision, the stomatognathic system, and body posture.
Anna L. Ferritto
Dr. Anna Lucia Ferritto received her D.D.S. degree in 1998 from the Faculty of Dentistry, University of L’Aquila, Italy. She is currently a staff member in the Department of Orthodontics and Gnathology, School of Dentistry at the University of Chieti.
Filippo Muratore
Dr. Filippo Muratore received his D.D.S. degree in 1996 from the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Chieti, Italy. He has been a contract professor, and since 1995, a staff member in the Department of Orthodontics and Gnathology, School of Dentistry at the same university.
Simona Tecco
Dr. Simona Tecco received her D.D.S. degree in 1999 from the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Chieti, Italy. She has been an assistant in the Department of Orthodontics and Gnathology at the same university since receiving her degree and currently, she has a fellowship position there.
Mauro Testa
Mr. Mauro Testa has been the lead technician at the Department of Orthodontics and Gnathology, School of Dentistry, University of Chieti, Italy since 1996. Currently, he directs the unit for postural and electromyographic recordings for that department.
Michele D’Attilio
Dr. Michele D’Attilio received his D.D.S. degree in 1998 from the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Chieti, Italy. Since 2000, he has been both a researcher in the Department of Orthodontics and Gnathology and the course professor for orthodontics I. He is a member of the Italian Association of Maxillofacial Surgery and has authored many articles on research in the clinical field.
Felice Festa
Dr. Felice Festa is director of the Department of Orthodontics and Gnathology, School of Dentistry and a professor of orthodontics at the University of Chieti, Italy. He is also director of the postgraduate program in clinical gnathology and orthodontics. He received his M.D. and D.D.S. degrees at the University of Rome in 1979 and 1982 respectively. He earned an M.S. degree in orthodontics in 1985 at the University of Cagliari. In 2001 he was nominated National Referee Professor in orthodontics at the National College of Professors. Dr. Festa has many published research articles in his field.