Role of Electro Acupuncture Therapy on Temporomandibular Joint Pain with Orofacial Myalgia following Post Healed Unilateral Cervicofacial Burn

Abstract

Background

Temporomandibular Joint (TJ) pain and orofacial myalgia (OM) are the most significant problems in physiotherapy context to treat in Cervicofacial burn (CB). However, there is a lack of clinical studies in investigating the effects of electro acupuncture therapy on TJ pain with OM following post healed CB patients.

Objective

To investigate the effects of clinical and functional efficacy of electro acupuncture therapy on temporomandibular joint pain with orofacial myalgia following post healed cervicofacial burn patients.

Methods

Through two block random sampling method, the eligible participants were randomized and allocated into active EAT (Active-EAT; n = 15) and placebo EAT (Placebo-EAT; n = 15) groups. The Active-EAT group received electro acupuncture therapy and the Placebo-EAT group received placebo effect with regular physiotherapy care for 4 times in a week for 4 weeks. Primary (pain intensity, pain threshold, pain frequency) and secondary (mouth opening, disability level and quality of life) measures were measured at baseline, after the 4th week, 8th week and 6 month follow up.

Results

Baseline demographic and clinical attributes show homogenous presentation among the study groups (p > 0.05). After 4 weeks of treatment, and at the end of 6 months follow up, the pain intensity, 3.0 (CI 95% 2.83 to 3.16), pain threshold 18.6 (CI 95% -35.0 to -2.1), pain frequency 2.9 (CI 95% 2.54 to 3.25), mouth opening, -13.4 (CI 95% -15.1 to -11.6), disability level 12.4 (CI 95% 12.16 to 12.63), and quality of life -25.8 (CI 95% -31.0 to -20.5) showed more improvement (p < 0.001) in Active-EAT group than Placebo-EAT group.

Conclusion

The reports of this study proved that, 4 weeks active electro acupuncture therapy with regular physiotherapy care has an ideal treatment protocol for temporomandibular joint pain with orofacial myalgia following post healed cervicofacial burn. This study also provided a new knowledge for physiotherapists in the field of TJ rehabilitation.