Background: For the rehabilitation of stroke patients, it is necessary to confirm the differences in the mechanical properties of the paretic- and non-pareticside masseter muscles.
Objectives: To investigate the muscle tone and stiffness of masseter muscles in patients with chronic stroke.
Design: A case study.
Methods: This study included 20 stroke patients. Muscle tone and stiffness of the paretic and non-paretic masseter muscles in stroke patients were measured using MyotonPRO. Measurements were performed under relaxation and masseter muscle contraction conditions.
Results: There was no significant difference in the muscle tone and stiffness of the paretic and non-paretic side masseter muscles in the relaxation conditions (P>.05). In male, left hemiplegia, right hemiplegia and infatction, the nonparetic side masseter muscles showed significantly increased than musle tone and stiffness of the paretic side masseter muscles in the contraction (P<.05). In female and hemorrhage, the non-paretic side masseter muscles showed significantly increased than musle tone the paretic side masseter muscles in the contraction (P<.05).
Conclusion: The muscle tone and stiffness were lower on the paretic side than on the non-paretic side during masseter muscle contraction in stroke patients; thus, muscle strengthening training was required.

INTRODUCTION
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES

• Jihye Kim(Department of Physical Therapy, Gangdong University)
• Kyunhee Cho(Department of Physical Therapy, Gangdong University)