title: Somatic modulation of tinnitus: test reliability and results after repetitive muscle contraction training.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to study the reliability of tinnitus modulation by muscle contractions and to observe the effect of their prolonged repetition.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight patients with tinnitus underwent 9 maneuvers of muscle contractions in test and retest situations. After a 2-month training period of repeating the maneuvers, tinnitus modulation and daily perception were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference between the occurrence of tinnitus modulation in test (57.9%) and retest (63.2%) situations. After 2 months, the occurrence of modulation during the maneuvers was similar (55.3%), but a new pattern showed an increase in tinnitus improvement and a decrease in tinnitus worsening. The daily perception of tinnitus was unchanged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maneuvers of head and neck muscle contractions evoked tinnitus modulation in a frequent and reliable manner. Also, the repetition of such maneuvers for 2 months altered the pattern of modulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tanit Ganz
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: da Silva Lima
authors.forename: Ana Laura
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Brandão
authors.forename: Maria Cecília
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lorenzi
authors.forename: Ricardo Ferreira
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Bento
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010465:Perception; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome