title: The influence of voluntary muscle contractions upon the onset and modulation of tinnitus.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology Department, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil. tanitgs@attglobal.net
authors.forename: Tanit Ganz
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Gaby Cecilia Yupanque
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: Maria Cecilia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lorenzi
authors.forename: Ana Laura
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Brandão
authors.forename: Ricardo Ferreira
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Bento
mesh_terms: 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*