J Orofac Pain
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Does the ovarian cycle influence the pressure-pain threshold of the masticatory muscles in symptom-free women?
To test the hypothesis that the ovarian cycle influences the pressure-pain threshold of the masticatory muscles. ⋯ In healthy subjects, there is a link between mechanical sensitivity of the masticatory muscles and fluctuation of the ovarian hormones. The relationship between PPTs of the masticatory muscles and the ovarian cycle should be also investigated in patients with temporomandibular disorders and/or orofacial pain conditions.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Capsaicin-induced muscle hyperalgesia in the exercised and non-exercised human masseter muscle.
Strong jaw muscle exercises such as tooth grinding in sleep bruxism are frequently believed to be a predisposing factor in myogenous types of temporomandibular disorders. However, it is not known whether tooth grinding in sleep bruxism is associated with increased sensitivity to intramuscular stimuli. This study therefore compared the hyperalgesic effects of an intramuscular injection of capsaicin into the right masseter with and without a prior experimental tooth-grinding exercise. ⋯ Increased sensitivity to percutaneous pressure stimuli probably reflects a post-exercise muscle soreness following tooth grinding, whereas intramuscular sensitivity to noxious chemical stimuli immediately following exercise seems to be unchanged.
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To investigate and compare absolute pressure-pain threshold (PPT) levels and ratios between craniofacial test and reference sites during consecutive PPT recordings, as well as over a 6-month period, in healthy individuals. This study also investigated PPT differences between genders and the clinical usefulness of different reference sites in the craniofacial region. ⋯ This study shows that absolute PPT levels in healthy individuals change significantly during consecutive PPT recordings, as well as over a 6-month period; this limits the usefulness of such measurements. This study also shows that the use of relative PPTs with the FRO as a reference site is useful, both for comparison between groups and for longitudinal studies.
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A review of the literature on gender and clinical pain reveals a disproportionate representation of women receiving treatment for many pain conditions and suggests that women report more severe pain, more frequent pain, and pain of longer duration than do men. Gender differences in pain perception have also been extensively studied in the laboratory, and ratings of experimentally induced pain also show some sex disparity, with females generally reporting lower pain thresholds and tolerance than males. ⋯ We will review the evidence concerning gender differences in the prevalence of pain conditions, with a focus on orofacial pain conditions. Evidence and hypotheses concerning biologic and psychosocial factors that could influence prevalence rates will also be discussed.
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Comparative Study
Somatic, affective, and pain characteristics of chronic TMD patients with sexual versus physical abuse histories.
This study examined whether temporomandibular disorder (TMD) patients with sexual versus physical abuse histories differ in their pain report, psychological distress, and somatic symptoms. ⋯ Based on the differences found, it can be argued that assessment of physical abuse histories by appropriately trained clinicians should be a routine part of any multimodal assessment of female chronic TMD patients.