Comparison of the Efficacy of Dry Needling, Ischemic Compression, and Cross Taping on Masseter Myofascial Pain

University of Coimbra

Status: Active, not recruiting

Conditions: Temporomandibular Joint Disorders; Myofascial Pain

Treatments: Procedure: Ischemic Compression; Procedure: Cross Tapes; Procedure: Dry Needling

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06606041

FMUC-MD-PAIN

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether Dry Needling, Ischemic Compression, and Cross Tapes work to treat myofascial pain in masseter muscles in adults. It will also learn about the safety of this treatment. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Do Dry Needling, Ischemic Compression, and Cross Tapes relieve masseter muscle pain?
• Which of these treatments provides the best relief from masseter muscle pain? Researchers will compare these three treatments to see which is best for treating masseter muscle pain.

Participants will:

Treated with Dry Needling or Ischemic Compression or Cross Tapes only once Visit the clinic one week, three months, and six months after treatment.

Full description

The taut band represents the most commonly observed muscular disorder, where myofascial trigger points may arise, causing referred pain in another location. Therapeutic strategies applied for its treatment include dry needling, ischemic compression, and cross-taping.

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of these treatment methods in reducing or alleviating the intensity of pain in the masseter.

In this multicenter randomized clinical trial, the study sample underwent a clinical examination according to the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders to diagnose the presence of orofacial myofascial pain with taut bands in the masseter. Participants were randomly allocated to three groups based on the treatment methods.

Enrollment: 60 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with myofascial pain diagnosed according Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC-TMD).

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnant women
• Other TMD-spectrum pathologies
• Anticoagulated and antiaggregated individuals
• Diabetes
• Blood disorders
• Fibromyalgia
• Autoimmune diseases in acute stages
• Neurological diseases
• Malignant tumor pathologies
• Patients with aichthyophobia
• Concomitant medication (opioids, antidepressants, myorelaxants)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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60 participants in 3 patient groups

Group 1

Active Comparator group

Treatment:

Procedure: Dry Needling

Group 2

Active Comparator group

Treatment:

Procedure: Ischemic Compression

Group 3

Active Comparator group

Treatment:

Procedure: Cross Tapes