Acupuncture and temperomandibular disorder

Short-term effects of dry needling of active myofascial trigger points in the masseter muscle in patients with temporomandibular disorders.

J Orofac Pain. 2010 Winter;24(1):106-12).

Needling active myofascial trigger points (TrPs) in the jaw muscles of patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) increases pain tolerance and improves jaw-opening ability, according to research carried out in Spain.

Twelve female TMD patients attended two treatment sessions on separate days and at each visit were randomly assigned to receive either deep or sham needling at the most painful point on the masseter muscle. Pressure pain threshold (PPT) over the masseter muscle TrP and the mandibular condyle and pain-free active jaw opening were assessed pre- and five minutes post-intervention. Subjects showed greater improvements in all measured outcomes when receiving deep needling compared with sham.

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