Visual Feedback of Bilateral Bite Force to Assess Motor Control of the Mandible in Isometric Condition

• Published in: Motor control Vol. 19; no. 4; p. 312
• Main Authors: Testa, Marco, Geri, Tommaso, Signori, Alessio, Roatta, Silvestro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.10.2015
• Subjects: Adult; Bite Force; Data Accuracy; Feedback, Sensory - physiology; Female; Humans; Male; Mandible - anatomy & histology; Mandible - physiology; Reproducibility of Results; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1087-1640
• DOI: 10.1123/mc.2014-0011

The assessment of the individual ability of modulating and coordinating the right and left bite force is poorly investigated. The present study describes a methodology for the assessment of the bilateral control of the biting force and evaluates the test-retest reliability in a sample of 13 healthy subjects. By modulating the intensity and the left/right balance of the biting force, the subject was able to drive a cursor on the screen to "reach and hold" targets, randomly generated within the physiological "range of force" of the subject. The average motor performance was evaluated by the mean cursor-target distance = 13 ± 5%, the Offset Error = 9 ± 5% and the standard deviation of the force vector = 17.7 ± 6.1% (expressed as % of the target). Mean distance and standard deviation indices had acceptable reliability. This technique improves the characterization of the mandibular motor function and it may have a relevant role for the assessment and rehabilitation of the neuromusculoskeletal disorders affecting the orofacial system.