[Low energy extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) for treatment of myogelosis of the masseter muscle].

Patients with functional disorders of the temporomandibular apparatus often show painful myogelosis, especially of the masseter muscle. The cause is hypertonia of the affected muscle. The aim of the presented single-blinded clinical trial was to analyze the effects of low-energy extracorporeal shock waves on patients with pain sensitivity in this region. Participating in the trial were 50 patients with painful, palpable and sonographically evident myogelosis of the masseter muscle. Half of the patients received a single application of 250 impulses of 0.04 mJ/mm2. The second half received an equivalent placebo treatment with the shock-wave impact being inhibited by a neopren insert. It was shown that in 64% of the patients significant alleviation of pain with palpable and sonographically evident softening of the myogelosis could be achieved. In 40% of the patients the therapeutic result could be conserved over a period of 2 weeks. The difference from the placebo group was statistically highly significant. ESWT is thus an easy-to-use, non-invasive method of initial pain therapy for patients with functional disorders. To preserve the long-term therapeutic result, additional functional therapy is nevertheless necessary.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes