20.500.12556/DKUM-91504 Acute myotonometric changes in the masseter and upper trapezius muscles after upper body quarter stretching and coordination exercises or chewing Pathologies in neck and masticatory muscles affect muscle tone and biomechanical and viscoelastic properties, necessitating precise assessment for treatment. This study evaluated the impact of two guided interventions—relaxing exercises targeting the neck and masticatory muscles (“Exercise”) and heavy chewing using six chewing gums (“Chewing”)—on the masseter and upper trapezius muscles. Twelve participants (aged 19–40 years) underwent myotonometric assessment pre- and post-intervention, measuring tone, stiffness, decrement, relaxation time, and creep. The results showed significant changes in the masseter muscle after exercise, with increased stiffness (14.46%, p < 0.001) and tone (7.03%, p < 0.001) but decreased creep (−9.71%, p < 0.001) and relaxation time (−11.36%, p < 0.001). Conversely, chewing decreased stiffness (−8.82%, p < 0.001) and tone (−5.53%, p < 0.001), while it increased creep (9.68%, p < 0.001) and relaxation time (9.98%, p < 0.001). In the trapezius muscles, tone decreased after both interventions (Exercise: −7.65%, p < 0.001; Chewing: −1.06%, p = 0.003), while relaxation increased (Exercise: 1.78%, p < 0.001; Chewing: 2.82%, p < 0.001). These findings reveal the distinct effects of exercise and chewing on muscle properties, emphasising the complexity of their therapeutic potential and the need for further investigation. exercise mastication muscle tonus relaxation techniques relaxation therapy temporomandibular joint disorders masseter muscle trapezius muscle bruxism intervention studies true true true MDPI Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik Znanstveno delo 2025-01-09 04:59:33 2025-02-13 11:22:57 2025-02-14 03:12:50 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2025 0 0 Str. 1-16 Št. 1, št. članka 344 Letn. 15 2025 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 2024-12-28 2024-12-16 2025-01-01 616.8 221205507 10.3390/app15010344 2076-3417 RAZ_Magdic_Marsa_2025.pdf RAZ_Magdic_Marsa_2025.pdf 1 A2705FBB094260356D340F269B2F9E7D 50e40d9a7a621e56f1c5060cef774ace090b2b4329ca4b66a4b0495544b71fa6 60984940-e9f4-11ef-ae38-00155d000105 https://dk.um.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=188636 https://doi.org/10.3390/app15010344 0 403b456d-e9f4-11ef-ae38-00155d000105 https://dk.um.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=188635 https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/1/344 1 2965fb6a-ce3e-11ef-8a9c-00155d000105 https://dk.um.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=187707 Medicinska fakulteta 0 0 0