Abstract

The maintenance of postural balance can be influenced by the lifestyle of a population. This study aimed to determine the electromyographic activity of the masseter and temporalis muscles during mandibular tasks and habitual and non-habitual chewing in indigenous individuals to reveal the differences among white Brazilian individuals. Sixty Brazilians (18 and 28 years) were divided into two groups: 30 Xingu indigenous individuals and 30 white Brazilian individuals, with 20 men and 10 women in each group. The individuals were assessed using the normalized electromyographic activity of mandibular tasks (rest, protrusion, right and left laterality) and electromyographic activity of masticatory cycles in habitual (peanuts and raisins) and non-habitual (Parafilm M) chewing. Data were analyzed using Student's t-test (p < .05). Comparisons between the groups demonstrated significant differences. Indigenous individuals group presented a decrease in the normalized electromyographic activity of the masticatory muscles during mandibular rest [right masseter (p = .002) and left masseter (p = .004) muscles]. There was increase in the normalized electromyographic activity during protrusion [left temporal (p = .03) muscle]. There was increase in the electromyographic activity during chewing: peanuts [right masseter (p = .001), left masseter (p = .001) and right temporal (p = .01) muscles], raisins [right masseter (p = .001), left masseter (p = .002), right temporal (p = .008), left temporal (p = .01) muscles] and Parafilm M [left masseter muscle (p = .05)]. From the findings of this study, we concluded that in the comparison between indigenous and white individuals, positive changes were observed in the electromyographic pattern of the masticatory muscles in the mandibular postural conditions, with greater masticatory efficiency in the indigenous group.