Effects of 8 weeks of masticatory muscles focused endurance exercises on women with oro-facial pain and temporomandibular disorders: A placebo randomised controlled trial

Background Exercises are used to treat temporomandibular disorders (TMD), but they are often assessed with other therapies. Local endurance exercises may alter the resistance to fatigue and pain. Objective To assess the effects of an 8-week protocol of local endurance exercises of masticatory muscles on muscle excitation, force response, perceived pain and over muscle efficiency. Design Randomised controlled trial. Setting Ambulatory care. Subjects In a placebo randomised controlled trial, 46 women with TMD and oro-facial pain were randomised into intervention group and placebo group. The intervention group received a protocol of biting endurance exercises, controlled by biofeedback. The placebo group received a placebo (simulated laser therapy). Main Outcome Measures The primary outcomes were collected at baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks. Pain was assessed through visual analogue scale (VAS) and pressure pain thresholds (PPT). Bite force was collected by a load cell synchronised with surface electromyography of masticatory muscles, bilaterally. Results Pain scores decreased for both groups, but the intervention group showed lower values at 8 weeks. No differences were noted between groups for PPT, but the results increased for both overtime. Time until fatigue and muscle efficiency were higher in the intervention group vs placebo group in both within- and between-subject analysis. Force increased from 4 to 8 weeks in the PG, without differences between groups. Temporal muscle excitation was higher on 8 weeks compared with baseline for the intervention group, without differences between groups. Conclusion Eight-week exercise protocol of muscle endurance alleviates the pain and improves the resistance to fatigue and muscle efficiency in TMD subjects.