Baseline masticatory muscles' performance may predict pain relief in temporomandibular disorders

• Published in: Oral diseases Vol. 30; no. 8; pp. 5349 - 5359
• Main Authors: Rosati, Riccardo, Val, Matteo, Manfredini, Daniele, Carmagnola, Daniela, Fortunati, Claudia, Guarda‐Nardini, Luca, Dellavia, Claudia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Denmark Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.11.2024
• Subjects: Adult; Arthrocentesis; Asymptomatic; Case-Control Studies; Electromyography; Facial Pain - etiology; Facial Pain - physiopathology; Female; Humans; Male; Mandible; Masseter Muscle - physiopathology; Mastication; Masticatory Muscles - physiopathology; Middle Aged; Muscles; Pain; Pain Measurement; Patients; surface electromyography; teeth clenching; Temporal Muscle - physiopathology; Temporomandibular joint; Temporomandibular joint disorders; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders - complications; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders - physiopathology; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders - therapy; Young Adult; arthrocentesis; pain; temporomandibular joint disorders; teeth clenching; surface electromyography
• ISSN: 1354-523X; 1601-0825; 1601-0825
• DOI: 10.1111/odi.15011

Objectives To compare masticatory muscles' recruitment in patients with temporomandibular disorders and asymptomatic control subjects. To evaluate if the masticatory muscles' recruitment pattern may predict symptoms' improvement after temporomandibular disorders treatment. Materials and Methods Standardized surface electromyography of anterior temporalis and superficial masseters muscles were recorded and compared at baseline in 26 patients with arthrogenous temporomandibular disorders (study group) and 26 asymptomatic subjects (control group). The study group was treated pharmacologically and by means of five arthrocentesis sessions. Pre‐, during‐, and post‐treatment pain and mandibular function were assessed and compared among timepoints. Clinical improvement in terms of pain and mandibular function was correlated with pre‐treatment standardized surface electromyography values. Results Temporomandibular disorders patients showed improved maximum mouth opening and pain during and after treatment with arthrocentesis compared to baseline (T‐test p < 0.01). Standardized surface electromyography values were significantly different in temporomandibular disorders subjects compared to controls (T‐test p < 0.05). Improvement in pain at rest after treatment was inversely correlated with pre‐treatment masseters standardized surface electromyography symmetry (R‐coefficient 0.3936; p < 0.05). Conclusions Temporomandibular disorders patients showed a different muscular recruitment pattern compared to controls. The lesser the pre‐treatment masseters symmetry, the greater the improvement of pain at rest after treatment.