title: Persistent orofacial muscle pain: Its synonymous terminology and presentation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present paper is to describe the presentation of persistent orofacial muscle pain, also commonly referred to as myofascial temporomandibular disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this practice survey, the authors reviewed the demographic and clinical features of 34 patients who were evaluated and diagnosed personally.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of the 34 patients were women (82.4%), and their age at consultation averaged 44.6 ± 12.6 (SD) years. The median pain duration was 4.0 years (range: 0.2-34 years). In 97.1% of patients, the pain occurred daily and continuously, and in 51.9% it was unilateral. Chewing or eating made the pain worse in 50% of the patients, and talking in 29.4%. On examination, tightness of the masseter muscle(s) was present in 58.8%, and tenderness in 58.8%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Persistent orofacial muscle pain mostly affects women, generally occurs daily and continuously, and is equally often unilateral and bilateral. Chewing, eating, and talking are the most common aggravating factors, and tightness or tenderness of the masseter muscle(s) is often found on examination.
authors: a Department of Neurology and Craniofacial Pain Center , Tufts University Schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine , Boston , MA , USA.
authors: Egilius L H
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5074-5869
authors: ELH
authors: Spierings
authors: b Department of Neurology , Erasmus Medical Center , Rotterdam , The Netherlands.
authors: Maxim J H L
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4721-1150
authors: MJHL
authors: Mulder
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Orofacial pain; myofascial temporomandibular disorder; persistent orofacial muscle pain; presentation