Delayed‐onset muscle soreness does not influence occlusal sensitivity and position sense of the mandible

Abstract

Masticatory muscle-pain patients often complain about sensorimotor changes, but the effects of pain on the psychophysical properties remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) on the jaw's position sense (PS) and occlusal sensitivity (OS). In all, 12 participants underwent intense concentric-eccentric jaw exercises. Self-reported muscle fatigue and pain, pain-free maximum mouth opening (MMO), pain pressure thresholds (PPTs) at right and left masseter and right and left anterior temporalis, maximum voluntary bite force (MVBF), PS and OS were recorded before, immediately after, 24 h, 48 h and 1 week after the exercises. Data were analysed with repeated measures anova. Pain and fatigue increased significantly after the exercises, while fatigue also increased 24 h afterwards. Time and site had a significant effect for PPTs, not for MVBF. MMO decreased significantly 24 h after the exercises. OS and PS did not change significantly. Experimentally induced DOMS does not influence the psychophysical properties of the masticatory system.

Two repetitive bouts of intense eccentric‐concentric jaw exercises reduce experimental muscle pain in healthy subjects

“…In this study, subjects underwent a second bout of eccentricconcentric exercises 1 week after the first bout, since at this moment a complete remission of both acute and delayed symptoms was expected. 12,19 Similar findings have been reported in a previous study 26 assessing the effects of a repeated submaximal clenching task. The authors found significant reduction in pain intensity, tenderness and unpleasantness after 5 days of consecutive clenching tasks.…”

“…This study is the first one to assess the effect of repeated eccentric‐concentric jaw exercises in healthy human volunteers. In this study, subjects underwent a second bout of eccentric‐concentric exercises 1 week after the first bout, since at this moment a complete remission of both acute and delayed symptoms was expected . Similar findings have been reported in a previous study assessing the effects of a repeated submaximal clenching task.…”

“…For each participant, the study protocol lasted 2 weeks and comprised 2 provocation parts (PP1 and PP2), with a 1‐week interval in between. The PPs followed the protocol described in previous papers . Briefly, the PP was performed with a custom‐made device made of two tungsten bars, separated by a piece of rubber tube, and with two biting plates on one edge.…”

“…The PPs followed the protocol described in previous papers. [10][11][12]19 Briefly, the PP was performed with a custom-made device made of two tungsten bars, separated by a piece of rubber tube, and with two biting plates on one edge. A lever enables to vary the distance between the 2 biting plates.…”

Occlusal tactile acuity in temporomandibular disorder pain patients: A case‐control study

“…The nature and scope of the study were explained to all participants before starting the test, and written consent was obtained. OTA was measured by applying a method already used previously 5,22 . Aluminium foils of incremental thicknesses (8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48, 56, 64 and 72 µm) were placed with a tweezer in the area of the mesio‐labial cusp of the first right molars, with the cheek retracted by means of a dental mirror.…”