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  • Pressure release technique ...
    Serrano‐Hernanz, Gema; Angulo‐Carrere, Teresa; Ardizone‐García, Ignacio; Svensson, Peter; Álvarez‐Méndez, Ana M.

    Journal of oral rehabilitation, September 2023, Volume: 50, Issue: 9
    Journal Article

    Background The therapeutic approach to myofascial TMD should focus on pain relief and rehabilitation of function. Objective This study investigated whether pressure release technique (PRT) is effective for reducing pain in people with chronic myofascial temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Methods A single‐blinded randomised parallel‐group trial, with 3 months follow‐up was conducted. A total of 72 patients were randomly allocated to receive PRT or sham PRT. Primary outcome was pain assessed with a visual analogue scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes included pressure pain thresholds (PPTs), range of opening of the mouth (ROM), Neck Disability Index (NDI), Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK‐11), State–Trait Anxiety Index (STAI) and State–Trait Depression Index (ST‐DEP). All parameters were assessed at baseline, at the end of the treatment and at 3 months follow‐up. Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA. Results There were significant main effects of time, group and interaction between time and group (F ≥ 21.92; p < .001) on VAS pain. Post hoc tests showed a significant reduction in VAS pain scores in the PRT group (≥31.9%; p < .001). Effect sizes were moderate in the PRT group at all follow‐up periods (≥1.25 Cohen's d). Also, there were significant effects of time in secondary outcomes (F ≥ 9.65; p < .001), and there were also interactions between time and group (F ≥ 3.82; p < .002) with better effects in the PRT group. Conclusions The inclusion of PRT to conventional management with occlusal splints and self‐care management appears to be effective to improve self‐reported levels of pain in patients with chronic myofascial TMD pain. Retrospectively registered (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03619889). The inclusion of PRT to conventional management with occlusal splints and self‐care management appears to be effective to improve self‐reported levels of pain in with chronic myofascial patients TMD pain. The combined treatment of the cervical and masticatory muscles significantly improved the opening of the mouth and cervical functionality as well as a clear improvement in the parameters of kinesiophobia, which could in turn improve motor behavior. In addition, PRT significantly improved the psychosocial factors of catastrophization, anxiety and depression.