Comparison of muscle tenderness and general pain sensitivity between subjects with temporomandibular disorders and concurrent neck disability and healthy subjects

• Author / Creator

  Silveira, Anelise

• Purpose: The main objective of this study was to compare the masticatory and cervical muscle tenderness and general pain sensitivity between patients with TMD and healthy controls.
  Methods: Eligible patients completed the Neck Disability Index and Jaw Dysfunction Index. Tenderness of the masticatory and cervical muscles and general pain sensitivity in the hypothenar region of the left hand were measured using an algometer.
  Results: The PPTs of the masticatory as well as cervical muscles of subjects with TMD were significantly lower statistically at almost all sites tested when compared with the healthy controls. Effect sizes were moderate to high indicating a clinically relevant difference between groups. General pain sensitivity of patients with TMD was significantly higher than the healthy control group. The correlation between jaw disability and neck disability was significantly high. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest a relationship between neck muscle tenderness and TMD. These findings emphasize the importance of including the neck when evaluating and treating patients with TMD.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Pain Sensitivity
  • Temporomandibular disorders
  • Neck Disability

• Graduation date

  Fall 2011

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3XG6B

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.