Evaluation of temporalis muscle activity using tongue push and bite

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Does the temporalis muscle activate to the same extent when performing a tongue push vs a molar bite? - a preliminary study

• IRAS ID

  345125

• Contact name

  Karen Young

• Contact email

  Karen.young16@nhs.net

• Sponsor organisation

  Queen Victoria NHS Foundation Trust

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 2 months, 28 days

• Research summary

  The facial therapy team have noticed that patients are able to activate their temporalis muscle following a lengthening temporalis myoplasty using tongue push as well as a molar bite during their rehabilitation. Current clinical practice and research indicates that facial therapy post operatively should involve education and rehabilitation of temporalis muscle activity using molar bite to achieve a smile. The use of both a tongue push and a molar bite for activation of a smile post operatively may be easier for patients to use functionally and could improve their rehabilitation potential, so this preliminary study to assess the reliability of muscle activation in healthy volunteers will provide the foundation data for further studies.
  -30 healthy staff volunteers recruited using a poster advert displayed at QVH.
  -Volunteers will attend in person in the facial therapy department at QVH
  -Surface EMG electrodes placed bilaterally over the temporalis muscle by a facial therapist. Subjects will follow standardised verbal instruction in bite and tongue push.
  - Muscle activation of temporalis to be recorded over three attempts using surface EMG recordings
  - level of muscle activation will be compared for the cohort

• REC name

  London - Stanmore Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  24/PR/0961

• Date of REC Opinion

  30 Sep 2024

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion