The articular disc of temporomandibular joint and three muscles of the cervico-facial region (temporal, masseter, sternocleidomastoid) are evaluated by means of sonographic images to observe and measure their dimensions' changes after a dry needling intervention. The participants are asymptomatic subjects and will be randomly divided in 2 groups: half of them are treated on the right side of the face, while the other half on the left side. Our hypothesis is that ultrasonography can reveal changes in the structures measured on the treated side.
The trial is designed as a before-and-after study conducted on asymptomatic subjects. The aim is to assess temporomandibular joint and three perimandibular muscles (temporal, masseter, sternocleidomastoid) by means of rehabilitative ultrasound imaging, carried out by a novice clinician. These evaluations are performed before and after a dry needling treatment directed to the tree studied muscles of one side of the face. The side to be treated is randomly assigned by using a computer-generated randomization process, the other side is used as control. One month after the treatment sonographic images are taken by the novice clinician and by an expert one. The aim is to assess the reliability of ultrasonography comparing the results of their assessments.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
17
The use of filiform needles to stimulate muscles and connective tissues. The needle is inserted in a direction perpendicular to the skin, a local twitch response is looked for and, once found, the needle is kept in the muscle without moving for 10 seconds. No substances are injected.
Universidad Francisco de Vitoria
Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
mean of temporomandibular joint disc thickness
the distance between the opposing surfaces of the disc (cm)
Time frame: Baseline (before the treatment), immediately after the treatment, one month after the treatment
mean of temporal muscle thickness
the distance between the opposing borders of the muscle, along the transverse axis of the muscle (cm)
Time frame: Baseline (before the treatment), immediately after the treatment, one month after the treatment
mean of masseter muscle thickness
the distance between the superficial and the deep border of the muscle (cm)
Time frame: Baseline (before the treatment), immediately after the treatment, one month after the treatment
mean of masseter muscle width
the distance between the opposing extremities of the muscle along the transverse axis of the muscle (cm)
Time frame: Baseline (before the treatment), immediately after the treatment, one month after the treatment
mean of masseter muscle cross-sectional area
the area of the muscle in transversal plan measured after drawing the outline of the muscle in an image obtained with the panoramic view function (cm2)
Time frame: Baseline (before the treatment), immediately after the treatment, one month after the treatment
mean of sternocleidomastoid muscle thickness
the distance between the superficial and the deep border of the muscle (cm)
Time frame: Baseline (before the treatment), immediately after the treatment, one month after the treatment
mean of sternocleidomastoid muscle width
the distance between the opposing extremities of the muscle along the transverse axis of the muscle (cm)
Time frame: Baseline (before the treatment), immediately after the treatment, one month after the treatment
mean of sternocleidomastoid muscle cross-sectional area
the area of the muscle in transversal plan measured after drawing the outline of the muscle in an image obtained with the panoramic view function (cm2)
Time frame: Baseline (before the treatment), immediately after the treatment, one month after the treatment
mean of maximum mouth opening
the distance between the superior border of inferior front teeth and the inferior border of superior front teeth (cm)
Time frame: Baseline (before the treatment), one month after the treatment
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