title: Optimal duration of ultra low frequency-transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (ULF-TENS) therapy for muscular relaxation in neuromuscular occlusion: A preliminary clinical study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The primary aim of this work was to determine the duration of ultra-low-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (ULF-TENS) application necessary to achieve sufficient relaxation of the masticatory muscles. A secondary aim was to analyze the influence of stimulation on muscle relaxation in pathological subjects and determine whether ULF-TENS has a noteworthy impact on muscle relaxation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen adult subjects with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and muscle pain and a group of four control subjects were included in this study. ULF-TENS was applied, and muscular activities of the masseter, temporal, and sternocleidomastoid muscles (SCM) were recorded for 60 min.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant relaxation was achieved in the TMD group from 20, 40, and 60 min for the temporal, masseter, and SCM muscles (p < 0.05), respectively. Maximum relaxation was achieved in 12.5% of the subjects after 20 min, in a further 12.5% after 40 min, and in the remaining 75% after 60 min. Significant relaxation was achieved in the control group from 20 to 40 min for the masseter and temporal muscles, respectively (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, the results suggest that an ideal ULF-TENS application would last 40 min to obtain sufficient muscle relaxation both in patients with masticatory system disorders and healthy subjects, a time constraint that is consistent with everyday clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: a Dental Faculty of Toulouse France , France.
authors.forename: Rémi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Esclassan
authors.affiliation: b Private Practice in Toulouse , France.
authors.forename: Anaïs
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rumerio
authors.affiliation: a Dental Faculty of Toulouse France , France.|b Private Practice in Toulouse , France.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Monsarrat
authors.affiliation: a Dental Faculty of Toulouse France , France.|b Private Practice in Toulouse , France.
authors.forename: Jean Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Combadazou
authors.affiliation: a Dental Faculty of Toulouse France , France.|b Private Practice in Toulouse , France.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Champion
authors.affiliation: a Dental Faculty of Toulouse France , France.|b Private Practice in Toulouse , France.
authors.forename: Florent
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Destruhaut
authors.affiliation: a Dental Faculty of Toulouse France , France.|b Private Practice in Toulouse , France.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ghrenassia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008410:Masticatory Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000502:physiology*; D063806:Myalgia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000502:physiology*; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Muscle relaxation; Neuromuscular occlusodontology; Temporomandibular disorders; Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)