OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of the addition of dynamic cervical electrical stimulation (electro-massage, ES) to manual therapy (MT), compared to MT by itself, in individuals with myofascial temporomandibular pain. METHODOLOGY: A total of 46 participants with bilateral myofascial temporomandibular pain for at least three months were distributed into two groups. Group 1 (n = 21) received local MT consisting of soft tissue mobilization and release techniques over the neck and temporomandibular regions. Group 2 (n = 25) received an ES procedure in the cervical region combined with the same intervention as group 1. All participants underwent a 2-week protocol. The primary outcomes were pain intensity (Visual Analogue Scale), pressure pain threshold (PPT) at the masseter and upper trapezius muscles (algometer), and pain-free vertical mouth opening (manual gauge). The secondary outcome was active cervical range-of-movement. Measurements were taken at baseline, immediately after intervention, and at a 4-week follow-up. RESULTS: The ANOVA revealed significant changes over group*time, with better results for group 2 (large effect sizes) regarding pain intensity (p < 0.001; eta2 > 0.14), pressure pain sensitivity and mouth opening (p < 0.001; eta2 > 0.14). Similar findings were observed for active cervical range-of-movement in all directions (p < 0.001; eta2 > 0.14), except rotation (p = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Electrical stimulation therapy over the cervical region combined with a MT protocol over the neck and temporomandibular joint shows better clinical benefits than MT by itself in subjects with myofascial temporomandibular pain. Registration code: NCT04098952.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help

• PubMed Central
• DOI
• PubMed
• PDF locator
• publisher