H A Didier1, A M Cappellari2, F Gaffuri3, M Curone4, V Tullo4, A H Didier5, A B Giannì3, G Bussone4,6. 1. Dental and Oral Surgery, The University of Milan and Headache and Facial Pain Center, Maxillo-facial and Dental Unit, IRCCS Foundation Ca' Granda, Maggiore Policlinico Hospital, The University of Milan, Via Francesco Sforza 35, 20122, Milan, Italy. hdidier@email.it. 2. Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS Foundation Ca' Granda, Maggiore Policlinico Hospital, The University of Milan, Via Francesco Sforza 35, 20122, Milan, Italy. 3. Dental and Oral Surgery, The University of Milan and Headache and Facial Pain Center, Maxillo-facial and Dental Unit, IRCCS Foundation Ca' Granda, Maggiore Policlinico Hospital, The University of Milan, Via Francesco Sforza 35, 20122, Milan, Italy. 4. Igea Healthcare Institute, Milan, Italy. 5. Hospital Pharmacy, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy. 6. C. Besta Neurological Institute Foundation and Igea Healthcare Institute, Milan, Italy.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The authors tried to establish whether there is any electrophysiological difference of masticatory muscle activity between patients with persistent idiopathic facial pain (PIFP) and healthy subjects. METHODS: Twenty-eight PIFP patients (6 men and 22 women, mean age 40 years) and 28 normal subjects (12 men and 16 women, mean age 40 years) underwent EMG of temporal and masseter muscles before and after transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS). RESULTS: After TENS stimulation, the mean amplitude difference was found to be smaller than the baseline before TENS in the PIFP patients compared with healthy subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The peculiar behavior of masticatory muscles after TENS could be relevant in order to explain the well-known improvement of pain reported by some PIFP patients after orthosis positioning.
INTRODUCTION: The authors tried to establish whether there is any electrophysiological difference of masticatory muscle activity between patients with persistent idiopathic facial pain (PIFP) and healthy subjects. METHODS: Twenty-eight PIFP patients (6 men and 22 women, mean age 40 years) and 28 normal subjects (12 men and 16 women, mean age 40 years) underwent EMG of temporal and masseter muscles before and after transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS). RESULTS: After TENS stimulation, the mean amplitude difference was found to be smaller than the baseline before TENS in the PIFP patients compared with healthy subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The peculiar behavior of masticatory muscles after TENS could be relevant in order to explain the well-known improvement of pain reported by some PIFP patients after orthosis positioning.