The influence of voluntary muscle contractions upon the onset and modulation of tinnitus.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the frequency of tinnitus onset (in normal subjects) and modulation (in tinnitus patients) during muscle contractions, estimating possible risk factors.


METHODS
This case-control study enrolled 121 tinnitus patients and 100 healthy volunteers who underwent medical history, ENT examination and 16 maneuvers of muscular contraction (head, neck and limbs). Modulation data were compared between patients with and without normal audiometry, well-defined diagnosis and symptoms of craniomandibular disorders.


RESULTS
The ability to modulate tinnitus (65.3%) was significantly higher than that to originate tinnitus (14.0%). The head and neck musculature was significantly more efficient than that of the limbs. Audiometric pattern, well-defined etiology and symptoms of craniomandibular disorders showed no relation to tinnitus modulation.


CONCLUSIONS
Somatic modulation is a characteristic aspect of tinnitus.
Sanchez
Tanit Ganz
TG
Otolaryngology Department, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil. tanitgs@attglobal.net
Guerra
Gaby Cecilia Yupanque
GC
Lorenzi
Maria Cecilia
MC
Brandão
Ana Laura
AL
Bento
Ricardo Ferreira
RF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D017271:Craniomandibular Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*