title: Effect of cathodal high-voltage electrical stimulation on pain in women with TMD.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pain is the main symptom of patients with temporomandibular disorder (TMD).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of cathodal high-voltage electrical stimulation (HVES) on pain intensity in women with TMD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty women with TMD (24.25 ± 8.90 years old) participated in the study. They were divided into experimental group (EG, n=10), which received 10 applications of HVES, and placebo group (PG, n=10), which received sham treatment with disconnected HVES equipment. For the sample selection, we used the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorder (RDC/TMD). Pain level was evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS) applied prior to and after the tenth application of HVES. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the Mann-Whitney test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten applications of HVES reduced pain intensity in the EG (p=0.01). In the PG, there was no significant difference (p=0.20). After the application of HVES, no difference was found (p=0.65) between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cathodal HVES was effective in reducing pain in women with TMD. Trial Registration RBR-4bk94x.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Natalia C M C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Kelly C S
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Berni-Schwarzenbeck
authors.forename: Amanda C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Packer
authors.forename: Delaine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rdrigues-Bigaton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004566:Electrodes; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult