Therapeutic evaluation of cervical dysfunction in patients with myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome: A prospective study

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to find out the therapeutic correlation between cervical dysfunction and myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome (MPDS). Materials and methods: The study included 46 patients out of which 23 had MPDS with cervical pain (group I), and 23 patients had only MPDS (group II). Detailed history and examination of the patients were carried out, and the factors taken into consideration were pain and tenderness of muscles of mastication and neck muscles, maximum comfortable mouth opening, and cervical range of motion. All the patients were randomly divided and advised physical exercises, light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation (LASER) therapy, and the combination of both exercise and LASER. Patients were assessed for the relief of signs and symptoms of myofascial pain and cervical pain posttreatment, every month for 2 months. Results: Both the groups showed a similar response to all the different treatment modalities. In group I, the patients also had relief in their cervical pain although the treatment was directed for MPDS. Patients from both the groups who were advised LASER and combination of both exercise and LASER showed better response in terms of reduction in visual analog scale, number of tender muscles, and increased maximum comfortable mouth opening posttreatment and during the follow-up, as compared with the patients who were advised only exercise. Conclusion: Patients having cervical pain showed significant improvement comparable with patients having no cervical pain. Hence, the conclusion drawn was that there is a positiveinterrelationship between MPDS and cervical (neck) pain; MPDS may act as a catalyst for precipitating cervical pain. Clinical significance: Cervical pain showed significant improvement to physiotherapy in the form of exercise, LASER, and combination treatment, though the effective modality was LASER and combination of exercise and LASER therapy.