The Effectiveness of Kinesiotaping and Inactivation of Trigger Points in Chronic Myofascial Pain of TMD

Overview

In patients with a long-lasting TMD syndrome, especially of a muscular nature, palpation examination can locate the trigger points of pain (TrP) in the chewing muscles, i.e., the nodules in the shape of bumps the size of rice or pea grains. Kinesiotaping (KT) is considered as an intervention method that can be used to release latent myofascial trigger points. It is a method that involves applying specific tapes to the patient's skin surface in order to use the natural self-healing processes of the body. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of Kinesiotaping methods and inactivation of Trigger Points on nonpharmacological elimination of pain in patients with functional disorders of the masticatory motor system.

BACKGROUND: Temporomandibular Dysfunction (TMD) is a disease characterized by a set of signs and symptoms that may include joint noise, pain in the mastication muscles, limitation of mandibular movements, facial pain, joint pain and / or dental wear. Pain appears as a very present and striking symptom, with a tendency to chronicity. This is a difficult treatment condition often associated with psychological factors such as anxiety. In patients with a longlasting TMD syndrome, especially those of a muscular nature, palpation can locate the trigger points of pain (TrP) in the chewing muscles, i.e. the nodules in the shape of bumps the size of grains of rice or peas. Of particular importance in the treatment of pain syndromes of temporomandibular joint disorders is physiotherapy and physical therapy. Some studies have shown improvement in subjects with chronic pain using different physiotherapy treatments, but this requires further investigation to determine the effectiveness of individual therapies in the fight against pain. PROBLEM: The multiple manifestation of symptoms causes a multitude of treatment methods and indicates that there is still no consensus in the understanding of the pathophysiology of the underlying TMD mechanisms. Treatment of pain syndrome in temporomandibular dysfunction due to heterogeneity of causes should have a multiprofile character. Despite the wide range of strategies used to treat patients with TMD, some patients have a temporary and / or unsatisfactory relief response. There are many physiotherapeutic methods to fight pain, among others: compressive mobilization, positional release, myofascial relaxation, active relaxation technique, postisometric relaxation technique. Of the commonly used methods, a deep tissue massage and stretching. Some of them are very unpleasant for patients, because in the first phase they intensify pain, eg active inactivation (therapy) of trigger points (TrP). Kinesiotaping is a painless method that does not intensify pain symptoms. Reports from various researchers are contradictory in this regard, hence the attempt to compare both methods in the aspect of non-pharmacological analgesic activity in patients with TMD. HYPOTHESIS: Researchers believe that in patients with severe pain symptoms, patients with TMD who are often accompanied by anxiety before symptom intensification, it is very important to use physiotherapeutic methods, which can eliminate or reduce pain in a non-pharmacological manner. In this type of patients, the psychological aspect is important in the form of immediate relief without aggravating the symptoms at least in the first phase, because it can cause patients psychological reluctance to the entire treatment process. Because of the mutual influence between pain and psychological factors, it is expected that the analgesic effect will have a positive effect influence on the level of anxiety before further often long-term therapeutic treatment. AIM: Evaluation and comparison of the analgesic efficacy of two physiotherapeutic methods: Kinsiotapinng (KT) and active inactivation of trigger points (TrP) in the pain levels in individuals with chronic pain due muscular TMD.