Abstract
We examined the changes of biting force after the application of deep friction massage on the masticatory muscles of CVA subjects. The subjects were ten CVA patients (five males, five females, average age 66 ± 3), eight healthy young persons (four males, four females, average age 20 ± 1) and eight healthy elderly persons (three males, five females, average age 65 ± 8), all of whom did not use dentures on molars and could bite at the molars of both sides. The biting force was determined by three times measurements each for the left and right molars before and after the deep friction massage, using a biting force meter, and the maximum value was adopted. The results were as follows: 1) In the CVA group of both sexes, there was no difference between the unaffected side and the affected side, but both groups showed an approximate 20~30% decrease in biting force, compared with the healthy elderly group; 2) An approximate 10% increase of biting force was observed after therapy of deep friction massage to the CVA subjects of both sexes. The mechanism of increased biting force due to deep friction massage was attribute to facilitation of muscle tonus manifestation of the masticatory muscles group and relief of hypertonus of peripheral muscles in the neck.
