Ultrasonographic assessment of masseter muscle thickness and its association with TMD risk, neck disability, and mouth opening: a cross-sectional study

Ümit Erkut; Hasan Bingöl

Ultrasonographic assessment of masseter muscle thickness and its association with TMD risk, neck disability, and mouth opening: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Aims: This study aims to examine the associations between muscle thickness (MMT) and the risk of temporomandibular disorder (TMD), as well as the relationship between MMT and neck disability, cervical range of motion, and maximum mouth opening (MMO). Methods: Thirty adults (mean age: 30.3±7.2 years) underwent evaluation using B-mode ultrasonography (US) to measure bilateral MMT. TMD risk was assessed using the Fonseca Anamnestic Index (FAI), neck-related disability using the Neck Disability Index (NDI), and functional mobility was assessed using MMT and cervical range of motion (ROM) measurements. Spearman correlation analyses were performed. Results: MMT demonstrated positive correlations with MMO (right: r=0.91, p<0.001; left: r=0.94, p<0.001). Negative correlations were observed between masseter thickness and neck disability (NDI: r=-0.71 to -0.75, p<0.001). The highest correlation coefficients were observed between masseter thickness and TMD risk (FAI scores) (right: r =-0.85; left: r=-0.82; p<0.001). In contrast, correlations with cervical ROM were low and not statistically significant (r=-0.18 to 0.22, p>0.05). Conclusion: MMT is linked to MMO and TMD risk. These findings support the clinical value of masseter morphology as a potential indicator of cervicomandibular functional impairment.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

The Ethics Committee at XXX University approved the study protocol for this research project (approval number E-53938333-050.04-62026, dated 26/11/2025). The Declaration of Helsinki, a statement of ethical principles for medical research involving human participants (including research using identifiable human material or data), developed by the World Medical Association (WMA), followed during the data collection process

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Physiotherapy

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Ümit Erkut ^*
0000-0002-5889-4495
Türkiye

Hasan Bingöl
0000-0003-3185-866X
Türkiye

Publication Date

May 22, 2026

Submission Date

February 17, 2026

Acceptance Date

May 5, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 8 Number: 3

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA94KW54BB

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Erkut, Ü., & Bingöl, H. (2026). Ultrasonographic assessment of masseter muscle thickness and its association with TMD risk, neck disability, and mouth opening: a cross-sectional study. Anatolian Current Medical Journal, 8(3), 538-543. https://izlik.org/JA94KW54BB

AMA

1.Erkut Ü, Bingöl H. Ultrasonographic assessment of masseter muscle thickness and its association with TMD risk, neck disability, and mouth opening: a cross-sectional study. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj. 2026;8(3):538-543. https://izlik.org/JA94KW54BB

Chicago

Erkut, Ümit, and Hasan Bingöl. 2026. “Ultrasonographic Assessment of Masseter Muscle Thickness and Its Association With TMD Risk, Neck Disability, and Mouth Opening: A Cross-Sectional Study”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8 (3): 538-43. https://izlik.org/JA94KW54BB.

EndNote

Erkut Ü, Bingöl H (May 1, 2026) Ultrasonographic assessment of masseter muscle thickness and its association with TMD risk, neck disability, and mouth opening: a cross-sectional study. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8 3 538–543.

IEEE

[1]Ü. Erkut and H. Bingöl, “Ultrasonographic assessment of masseter muscle thickness and its association with TMD risk, neck disability, and mouth opening: a cross-sectional study”, Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 538–543, May 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA94KW54BB

ISNAD

Erkut, Ümit - Bingöl, Hasan. “Ultrasonographic Assessment of Masseter Muscle Thickness and Its Association With TMD Risk, Neck Disability, and Mouth Opening: A Cross-Sectional Study”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8/3 (May 1, 2026): 538-543. https://izlik.org/JA94KW54BB.

JAMA

1.Erkut Ü, Bingöl H. Ultrasonographic assessment of masseter muscle thickness and its association with TMD risk, neck disability, and mouth opening: a cross-sectional study. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj. 2026;8:538–543.

MLA

Erkut, Ümit, and Hasan Bingöl. “Ultrasonographic Assessment of Masseter Muscle Thickness and Its Association With TMD Risk, Neck Disability, and Mouth Opening: A Cross-Sectional Study”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal, vol. 8, no. 3, May 2026, pp. 538-43, https://izlik.org/JA94KW54BB.

Vancouver

1.Ümit Erkut, Hasan Bingöl. Ultrasonographic assessment of masseter muscle thickness and its association with TMD risk, neck disability, and mouth opening: a cross-sectional study. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj [Internet]. 2026 May 1;8(3):538-43. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA94KW54BB