Myofascial Pain of the Head and Neck:

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the 12 month longitudinal changes in 2 populations diagnosed as having chronic MFP of the masticatory muscles; one was 49 patients involved in a team management program and the other was 10 patients who received no treatment. Methods: Measures included a multidimensional symptom severity index and the craniomandibular index [CMI]. The CMI measures jaw dysfunction and tenderness. Both measures have been tested for reliability and validity. The treatment program consisted of a stabilization splint, jaw exercises, and reduction of oral habits. Results: At the follow-up visit, the treated patients had improved in symptom severity, jaw dysfunction, and muscle tenderness and the changes were found to be more than the untreated group [P ≤. 05]. However, the post-treatment levels of each measure for the treated group was still higher as compared to the general population group without MFP. Conclusion: Patients with chronic MFP who are treated reduce levels of pain and dysfunction more than a no treatment group but continue to have some tenderness and pain.

KEYWORDS:

• Myofascial pain
• muscle pain
• treatment
• pain
• interdisciplinary