Effectiveness of dry needling on the local pressure pain threshold in patients with masticatory myofascial pain. Systematic review and preliminary clinical trial.

: To systematically review the literature to identify controlled clinical trials evaluating the effectiveness of deep dry needling (DDN) in the treatment of patients with chronic masticatory myofascial pain (MMP).: The sample size for a clinical trial was calculated and involved five patients who consecutively presented for treatment of MMP. The percentage of change in the means of three consecutive measurements of the pressure pain threshold (PPT) of myofascial trigger points (MTPs) was calculated and the statistical significance of this difference evaluated using the Wilcoxon test.

Differences in non-specific physical symptom levels and pressure pain thresholds between patients with masticatory myofascial pain and arthralgia.

: To compare the levels of non-specific physical symptoms and pressure pain threshold (PPT) found in patients with masticatory myofascial pain with those found in patients with temporomandibular arthralgia alone. : The study followed an observational and cross-sectional protocol. A total of 64 female patients were evaluated for the presence of painful TMD, non-specific physical symptom levels, and PPT.