Efficacy of Combining Low-Level Laser Therapy With a Self-Management Program on Myalgia in Temporomandibular Disorders

Clinical, Psychosocial, Behavioral Characteristics and Treatment Effectiveness of Low Level Laser Therapy on Patients With Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of combining low-level laser therapy and the self-management program for patients with temporomandibular joint disorders using a randomized controlled design.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of combining low level laser therapy and self-management program for patients with temporomandibular joint disorders using a randomized controlled design.

66 patients suffering from acute and subacute myalgia diagnosed using Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) at High-tech Center for Odonto-Stomatology, Institute of Odonto-Stomatology, Ha Noi Medical University, Viet Nam. Patients without treatment (because of economic or geographical conditions) were persuaded to join the control group. Group 3 includes 22 patients who will be counseled on changing habits, adjusting behavior, exercising and will be taken in order of examination. 44 patients will be randomized into the remaining 2 groups:

• Group 1: wear stabilization splint at night for 2 months combined with counseling, behavior modification, and exercise.
• Group 2: recieve low level laser treatment 3 times aweek, 20 seconds/ session, 10 sessions in total, combined with counseling, behavior modification, and exercise.

Assessment takes place at baseline, after treatment approximately 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 12 weeks, 24 weeks later and 48 weeks follow up. The effects of the interventions are evaluated in terms of reduction in pain intensity (Visual Analogue Scale-VAS), number of masticatory muscle pain point with palpation, number of supplemental muscle pain with palpation, maximum mouth opening, right lateral movements, left lateral movements, protrusive movements, Jaw functional limitation scale (JFLS-8), psychological variables such as PHQ-9, PHQ-4, GAD-7.

Data were entered and analyzed by SPSS 16.0 software. Use Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Wilcoxon test applied to non-normally distributed variables to compare VAS between groups at different follow-up times. Use paired t-test and independent t-test to compare the maximum opening, lateral movements, protrusive movements, JFLS-8, PHQ-9, PHQ-4, GAD-7 between groups before and after treatment. p value < 0.05 is considered statistically significant.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients diagnosed with Temporomandibular joint Disorders (according to DC/TMD) with acute or subacute temporal muscle and/or masseter muscle pain (less than 3 months).
• All patients aged 16 years or older, capable of comprehending the doctor's opinion and complying with the examination process.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with chronic TMDs pain, swelling and pain in the mouth that prevent wearing a occlusal splint.
• Patients with history of severe neurological disorders, autoimmune joint and muscle diseases, advanced malignant cancer, history of mental illness, history of alcoholism, drug and painkiller abuse, undergoing surgery and/or radiotherapy on the neck and face, other treatments on the neck and temporomandibular joint within 3 months, use of drugs that may affect the neuromuscular system.
• Pregnant patients