Efeito da acupuntura na intensidade da dor e qualidade do sono em mulheres com disfunção temporomandibular muscular: ensaio clínico randomizado.

Abstract

Objectives: to investigate the effect of acupuncture on pain intensity control and sleep quality improvement in women with temporomandibular muscle dysfunction. Methods: a randomized clinical trial was conducted in women (18-59 years) diagnosed with temporomandibular muscle dysfunction (TMD). Patients were allocated to a control group and another group that received manual acupuncture (1x/wk, for 16 weeks). The pain intensity threshold was evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS) and by the use of digital algometer in the region of the masseter and temporalis muscles and temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Sleep quality was analyzed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire). The Student t or Wilcoxon tests were used for the paired and Mann-Whitney tests for the non-paired. Results: in analysis by VAS it was noted that the acupuncture treated group showed smaller perception of pain intensity at the end of 4 months of follow up (p <0.0001). It has been observed in the analysis of the pressure pain threshold, a significant difference between the acupuncture and control groups, only in the left masseter muscle region (p <0.05) and left TMJ (p <0.01). In the analysis of PSQI, the group treated with acupuncture showed significant improvement in subjective quality, latency, efficiency, and overall duration of sleep quality score (p <0.05). Conclusion: acupuncture treatment increased the threshold of pain perception and sleep quality in patients with muscular TMD.