IMPACT: to understand if and how much the muscles are inhibited
Definition
IMPACT represents the ratio of the intensity of muscular work performed during a test compared to that performed during a normalization test. The IMPACT index is influenced by occlusal stability because there is a relationship between muscle activity and number of occlusal contacts.
Muscle activity is therefore influenced by the number, the distribution and the area of occlusal contacts. It can suggest if the patient is a habitual latcher (development of parafunctions, serration, grinding) or activates proprioceptive inhibition mechanisms.
Example aspects
Healthy subjects are able to express from 80 to 120% of the activity performed on the cottons. Minor values indicate a proprioceptive inhibition attributable to dental contact.