Relationship between head position and the muscle hardness of the masseter and trapezius muscles: a pilot study.

The purpose of this study was to examine the hardness of the masseter and trapezius muscles at various head positions and to explore the relationship of these two muscles to each other in terms of their respective levels of muscle hardness at different head positions. Twenty-two asymptomatic male subjects participated in this study. Using a hand-held hardness meter, muscle hardness was first measured in a relaxed position as a baseline.

Effect of short-term use of a centric occlusion stabilization oral appliance on sensory and pain perception thresholds in the cervically innervated area: a pilot study.

This preliminary study was done to determine the effect of short-term use of a centric occlusion stabilization oral appliance with regard to noxious and sensory perception in the upper extremities. The subjects consisted of 22 asymptomatic females, and the experiments were performed on two separate days within the same week, with the days randomly assigned as either appliance-wearing or nonappliance-wearing days. For each experimental day, cool sensation, warm sensation, cold-induced pain and heat-induced pain were measured using a computer-based quantitative testing device, and these thresholds were compared between the experimental days with or without the oral appliance.