Eletroestimulação neuromuscular e a atividade elétrica dos músculos masseteres em crianças com respiração oral secundária à rinite alérgica

Allergic rhinitis is described as an inflammation of the nasal mucosa, mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE) following contact with allergens. Runny nose, itching, sneezing and nasal obstruction are the common signs and symptoms. The resulting obstruction of airways of allergic rhinitis can lead an individual to take oral breathing and muscle changes as the lifts sagging muscles of the jaw, lips and cheeks, hypofunction of stomatognathic functions of breathing, chewing, swallowing and speaking. In the treatment of muscular disorders, neuromuscular electrical stimulation is used because it promotes muscle contractions via electrical stimuli applied to the skin, complementing the voluntary muscle activity, which is reduced or altered, facilitating functional reeducation and strengthening muscles. It is believed that neuromuscular electrical stimulation in the masseter muscles in children with allergic rhinitis causes changes in the electrical activity of these muscles. The objective of this work was to verify the effect of the use of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on electrical activity of the masseter muscles in children with allergic rhinitis. It is not randomized, quantitative, analytical and longitudinal. Of 25 patients with physician-diagnosed allergic rhinitis confirmed by medical records, of both genders, aged 7-12 years. Children and their parents responded to an interview, and the child held myofunctional clinical examination, followed by surface electromyography in masseter muscles before and 5 minutes after the neuromuscular eletrosestimulacao lasting 25 minutes. The results showed significant differences in chewing after neuromuscular electrical stimulation in the right masseter in moderate to severe (p = 0.021) rhinitis. Concludes that neuromuscular electrical stimulation altered the electrical activity of right masserter muscle during chewing rhinitis of moderate to severe intensity.