ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To determine changes in orofacial pain perception in community-based children by assessing the pressure pain threshold (PPT) with an algometer and pain intensity by manual palpation (MP). METHODS: A total of 100 children from the community aged 7 to 12 years were assessed. Thirty-eight children reported pain in the orofacial region. Of these children,10 reported joint pain (GJ), 12 reported joint and muscle pain (GJMM), 5 reported muscle pain (GMM), 11 reported pain during mastication (GMAST), and 62 reported no pain. An ANOVA (p < 0.05) was used to determine the differences in pain intensity and PPT among groups. RESULTS: Significantly higher pain intensity upon MP was observed for the temporalis muscle in the GJMM, GMAST and GJ groups compared to the remaining groups. The PPT values were significantly lower in the masseter temporalis muscles, TMJ and thenar region in the GJMM group compared to the other groups. CONCLUSION: MP more accurately differentiated symptomatic subjects from symptom-free TMD subjects, and PPT values were more sensitive to the discrimination of pain in the orofacial sites assessed. In addition, the changes in perception at a larger number of sites among children reporting mixed pain may suggest the presence of a possible mechanism of central sensitization.
Subject(s)
Arthralgia/physiopathology , Facial Pain/physiopathology , Pain Perception/classification , Temporomandibular Joint Disorders/physiopathology , Central Nervous System Sensitization/physiology , Child , Discrimination, Psychological/physiology , Female , Humans , Male , Masseter Muscle/physiopathology , Mastication/physiology , Pain Perception/physiology , Pain Threshold/physiology , Palpation/methods , Surveys and Questionnaires , Temporal Muscle/physiopathology , Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome/physiopathology , Tendons/physiopathologyABSTRACT
To analyze comparatively through electromyography (EMG) the orbicularis oculi muscle from normal patients and those indicated to receive eye prosthesis (treated patients), it was studied 24 male patients with a mean age of 32.5 years old, who were divided into 2 groups as follows: 12 individuals with absence of the left eyeball and indicated to receive prosthesis (treated); 12 normal individuals (control). The work was performed in 4 different clinical conditions: initial resting; normal opening and closure of the eyelids; forced opening and closure of the eyelids and final resting, before and after placement of eye prosthesis. The exams were made using an Electromyograph K6-I Light Channel and Surface Electrodes. By the results obtained under the work conditions, we can conclude that: the use of eye prosthesis did not interfere in the clinical conditions of opening and closure of the eyelid; the loss of the eyeball increases the EMG activity of the orbicularis oculi muscle; the use of eye prosthesis for a period of 7 days, was not enough to diminish the muscular activity, even its perfect adaptation been evidenced clinically.
