• Michail Koutris, Frank Lobbezoo, Machiel Naeije, Nevruz Ceren Sümer, Elif Sibel Atiş, and Kemal S Türker.
• Department of Oral Kinesiology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam, MOVE Research Institute Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.koutris@acta.nl
• Clin J Pain. 2013 Aug 1;29(8):712-6.

ObjectiveIn a study to the possible role of overuse of the jaw muscles in the pathogenesis of jaw muscle pain, we used a protocol involving concentric and eccentric muscle contractions to provoke a state of delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in the jaw muscles of healthy individuals. We tested whether the accompanying signs and symptoms would yield the temporary diagnosis of myofascial pain according to the research diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders (RDC/TMD) in these individuals.MethodsForty persons (mean age±SD=27.7±7.5 y) performed six, 5-minute bouts of eccentric and concentric jaw muscle contractions. Before and immediately after the exercise, and 24 hours, 48 hours, and 1 week later, self-reported muscle fatigue and pain, pain-free maximum mouth opening, pressure-pain thresholds, and the number of painful jaw muscle palpation sites were recorded.ResultsSignificant signs and symptoms of DOMS in the jaw muscles were found, which all had resolved after 1 week. In 31 (77.5%) of the participants, these signs and symptoms also gave rise to a temporary diagnosis of myofascial pain according to the RDC/TMD.ConclusionsThe results of this study demonstrate that an experimental protocol involving concentric and eccentric muscle contractions can provoke DOMS in the jaw muscles and the temporary diagnosis of myofascial pain according to the RDC/TMD. The results observed strengthen the supposition that the myofascial pain in TMD patients may be a manifestation of DOMS in the jaw muscles.

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