Effect of Controlled Masticatory Exercise on Pain and Muscle Performance in Myofascial Pain Patients: A Pilot Study

AbstractThe aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that strengthening masticatory muscles using a controlled chewing exercise protocol improves muscle function, as evaluated quantitatively by electromyogram, and reduces pain at rest and during function. The study included 20 patients diagnosed with myofascial pain according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders with low masseter volume increase during maximal clench. The exercise group (ten patients) was subjected to a controlled gum chewing exercise protocol for eight weeks: the control group (ten patients) received only support and encouragement. Patients were examined at the beginning and at the end of the experiment which included an electromyogram (EMG) to assess muscle performance, masticatory muscle tenderness to palpation, mouth opening range, subjective anamnestic indices to evaluate pain perception and pain relief, and chewing tests. The EMG showed that the masticatory muscle exercise did produce objective phy...