Oral myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS) Studies
2. Patients presenting with oral myofascial disorders and pain in the head and neck area are often resistant to conventional therapy. Acupuncture has been shown to be effective in pain reduction. Twenty-three patients with craniomandibular disorders, headache and in particular, local pain in the orofascial, cervical and temporomandibular joint areas were randomised into acupuncture or placebo laser therapy groups. Pain was assessed by a visual analogue scale (VAS) and by palpation of 14 muscles and groups of muscles immediately before and after treatment, the assessor being blinded to the patients' allocation. Applicable acupuncture points were searched and pricked using the 'very-point' technique.
Pain reduction measured by VAS was significantly more pronounced after acupuncture than after placebo treatment (p=0.031). Sum of pain scores across 14 muscles was considerably more reduced after acupuncture as compared to sham laser treatment. Acupuncture may bring about immediate pain relief in patients with oromyofascial disorders, increasing the chance to initiate other therapeutic measures.
7. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating symptoms associated with myofascial pain of the jaw muscles. Twenty-eight subjects over the age of 18 and diagnosed with chronic myofascial pain of the jaw muscles were randomized to receive real (n = 16) or sham (n = 12) acupuncture. General head and neck pain ratings were obtained before and after treatment on a numerical rating scale. A mechanical pain stimulus on the masseter muscle was given before and after treatment and rated on a visual analog scale to measure pain tolerance level. Paired t tests were performed to detect significant changes in pain levels.
Subjects receiving real acupuncture experienced a significant reduction in jaw pain (P = .04), jaw/face tightness (P = .04), and neck pain (P = .04), and a significant increase in pain tolerance of the masseter muscle (P = .001). Subjects were not able to determine whether they received real or sham acupuncture (P = .69). No significant pain reductions were observed in the sham acupuncture group.
11. The study was intended to assess the effects of acupuncture in patients with temporomandibular disorders as compared to placebo therapy (sham laser); the primary target parameter was the subjective pain sensation. Patients with disorders of the stomatognathic system describe pain and clicking phenomena as their primary symptoms. Rapid improvement of the pain is required for various reasons.
On the basis of the results of this present study, acupuncture may be recommended as acute treatment of craniomandibular disorders.