Videogame competition as an anxiety trigger and their implications on the masseter muscle activation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35366/111118Keywords:
anxiety, bruxism, electromyography, gender differences, stressAbstract
Introduction: stress and anxiety are body reactions that are related to mental or emotional variations,
both have been linked to temporomandibular disorders. An imbalance in the masseter muscle can
contribute to the loss of cervical lordosis. Videogames usually contribute to well-being, however,
there have been reports of anxiety. Objective: to determine if a videogame competition can create
emotional changes and affect the masseter muscle activation. Material and methods: thirteen
university-level subjects were recruited. We measured heart rate and obtained the stress index. For
surface EMG we instrumented the masseter muscle, and they answer the form Y1 of the State-Trait
Anxiety Inventory. Subjects were randomized into groups of four and played in competition mode
Mario Kart. Results: there exists a significant difference in values at the basal mean heart rate and
in-game mean heart rate which went from 83 ± 15 bpm to 102 ± 14 bpm. Also, there was a significant
difference when divided by gender the sample in their anxiety levels women 46.50 ± 9.38 point while
men 35.06 ± 5.23. For sEMG average activation for both sides were 65 ± 40%. Conclusion: the
results showed that when playing videogames in competition mode it can increase anxiousness in
subjects that can trigger masseter muscle activation in levels above chewing something hard, which
could lead to cervical posture problems in the future.
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