Association of facial massage, dry needling, and laser therapy in Temporomandibular Disorder: case report.

Codas. 2018 Nov 29;30(6):e20170265

Authors: Pessoa DR, Costa DR, Prianti BM, Costa DR, Delpasso CA, Arisawa EÂLS, Nicolau RA

Abstract
This case report aims to evaluate the treatment of Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) of muscular origin by associating facial massage (FM), dry needling (DN), and low-level laser therapy (LLLT). The pre- and post-treatment evaluations consisted of clinical examinations based on the Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) for TMD, pain intensity quantification by means of the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), mandibular movement measurement, and electromyographic (EMG) analysis of the masseter and temporal muscles. Post-therapy assessment indicated a decrease in pain sites of 58%, in pain intensity mean (1.3), and an increase in the maximum aperture of 10 mm, in addition to normalization of EMG signals. We conclude that, after application of the treatment protocol, there was a decrease in painful sites, gain in amplitude of mandibular movements, and normalization of EMG activity.

PMID: 30517267 [PubMed – in process]