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.

Cross-sectional study of anxiety symptoms and self-report of awake and sleep bruxism in female TMD patients.

Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between levels of anxiety symptoms and prevalence of self-report of awake and sleep bruxism in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD).

Method: One hundred and eighty-one female patients, aged 19-77 years, were consecutively evaluated. The patients were selected from among those who sought treatment at the TMD and Orofacial Pain Outpatient Clinic of the Petrópolis School of Medicine.

Frequency of temporomandibular arthralgia among myofascial pain patients with pain on palpation of ipsilateral masseter.

Aims: The masseter muscle is a common source of referred pain to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), with a possibility of false positive diagnoses for arthralgia when diagnosed by research diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders (RDC/TMD) clinical examination. The current study investigated the distribution of arthralgia diagnoses among individuals with myofascial pain, with or without pain on masseter palpation.

Methodology: The study was conducted with 255 outpatients.

Does the previous diagnosis of arterial hypertension affect one's daily life? Pro-Saude Study.

In addition to damaging several target organs, arterial hypertension may negatively impact patients' activities of daily living. Biological and behavioral mechanisms underlying such limitations have yet to be clarified. The objectives of this study were to investigate whether having been previously told of a hypertension diagnosis is associated with the frequency and duration of temporary limitations in activities of daily living, and whether these relationships differ by gender, age, or socioeconomic position.

[Temporary limitations in daily routine activities: association with arterial pressure and antihypertensive therapy].

Background: Arterial hypertension has a crucial role in the occurrence of severe clinical events, but there are controversies regarding the impact of the arterial pressure levels or anti-hypertensive medication on the routine activities of individuals.

Objective: To verify whether the increase in arterial pressure levels or anti-hypertensive medications determine a temporary incapacity for routine activities.

Methods: Analysis of sectional data of 2,953 participants, from 1999-2001, of a cohort of university employees in Rio de Janeiro (Pro-Saude Study).