Changes in masseter muscle trigger points following strain-counterstrain or neuro-muscular technique

MR is effective in reducing pain and improving the range of movement of the mandible in TMD.

“On the other hand, the results of studies assessing the clinical effects of MR in the treatment of such disorder show its effectiveness in reducing pain and improving the range of movement of the mandible [17].”

Ibanez-Garcia et al. compared the therapeutic effects of the neuromuscular technique and the positional release method in patients with myofascial trigger points in the masseter muscles.

“Ibanez-Garcia et al. [17] attempted to compare the therapeutic effects of the neuromuscular technique and the positional release method among patients diagnosed with MTrPs located within the masseter muscles.”

Ibanez-Garcia et al. demonstrated significantly greater improvement in pain-free mandibular range of motion after using the modified MR method than after using the PIR intervention described by Blanco et al.

“However, it should be noted that Ibanez-Garcia et al. [17] demonstrated a significantly greater improvement in the pain-free mandibular range of motion after using the modified MR method than using the PIR intervention described by Blanco et al. [16].”

Authors assessing MR procedures methodically consistent with this study indicate their effectiveness in reducing pain.

“Authors assessing the outcomes of MR procedures, methodically consistent with the approach carried out in this study, indicate their effectiveness in increasing the pain-free range of motion [17], reducing pain [17,36,37], improving musculoskeletal function [36,37] and reducing muscle stiffness [38].”

Authors assessing MR procedures methodically consistent with this study indicate their effectiveness in increasing pain-free range of motion.

“Authors assessing the outcomes of MR procedures, methodically consistent with the approach carried out in this study, indicate their effectiveness in increasing the pain-free range of motion [17], reducing pain [17,36,37], improving musculoskeletal function [36,37] and reducing muscle stiffness [38].”

In Ibanez-Garcia et al.'s study, both methods were highly effective in reducing the pressure pain threshold and increasing the maximum pain-free mandibular active range of motion.

“Nevertheless, both methods were found to be highly effective in reducing the pressure pain threshold (PPT) and increasing the maximum pain-free mandibular active range of motion, while a moderate effect on reducing the intensity of local pain induced by palpation was observed.”

The results of the cited studies by Blanco et al. and Ibanez-Garcia et al. are consistent with each other despite different measurement tools.

“Despite the fact that the measurement tools used in the cited studies differ from those used in our report, the results of these researches are consistent with each other [16,17].”

In Ibanez-Garcia et al.'s study, there was a moderate effect on reducing the intensity of local pain induced by palpation.

“Nevertheless, both methods were found to be highly effective in reducing the pressure pain threshold (PPT) and increasing the maximum pain-free mandibular active range of motion, while a moderate effect on reducing the intensity of local pain induced by palpation was observed.”