title: Mastication movements and sleep quality of patients with myofascial pain: occlusal device therapy improvements.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with myofascial pain experience impaired mastication, which might also interfere with their sleep quality.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the jaw motion and sleep quality of patients with myofascial pain and the impact of a stabilization device therapy on both parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty women diagnosed with myofascial pain by the Research Diagnostic Criteria were enrolled. Pain levels (visual analog scale), jaw movements (kinesiography), and sleep quality (Epworth Sleepiness Scale; Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) were evaluated before (control) and after stabilization device use. Range of motion (maximum opening, right and left excursions, and protrusion) and masticatory movements during Optosil mastication (opening, closing, and total cycle time; opening and closing angles; and maximum velocity) also were evaluated. Repeated-measures analysis of variance in a generalized linear mixed models procedure was used for statistical analysis (α=.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, participants with myofascial pain showed a reduced range of jaw motion and poorer sleep quality. Treatment with a stabilization device reduced pain (P<.001) and increased both mouth opening (P<.001) and anteroposterior movement (P=.01). Also, after treatment, the maximum opening (P<.001) and closing (P=.04) velocities during mastication increased, and improvements in sleep scores for the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (P<.001) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (P=.04) were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Myofascial pain impairs jaw motion and quality of sleep; the reduction of pain after the use of a stabilization device improves the range of motion and sleep parameters.
authors.affiliation: Graduate student, Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Larissa Soares Reis
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Vilanova
authors.affiliation: Postdoctoral student, Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thais Marques Simek Vega
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Graduate student, Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcele Jardim
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pimentel
authors.affiliation: Graduate student, Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paula Furlan
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Bavia
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: regarcia@fop.unicamp.br.
authors.forename: Renata Cunha Matheus
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Rodrigues Garcia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible / Q000503:physiopathology; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D017090:Occlusal Splints; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000502:physiology; D013706:Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult