Assessment of pain and referred sensation by standardized palpation in women with temporomandibular disorders and migraine: a double-blind clinical study

• Grant number: 24/16066-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: December 01, 2024
• End date: April 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry
• Principal Investigator: Daniela Aparecida de Godoi Gonçalves
• Grantee: Alicia Picanço
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FOAr). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Referred pain/sensation is pain that occurs in a region or structure different from whichit originated. They are commonly found in painful musculoskeletal conditions. The aim of thisstudy is to investigate thepresence of referred pain and/or sensations through standardizedpalpation at different intensities of the temporal and masseter muscles, in the TMJ and in thethenar muscle (extratrigeminal area). The study aims to compare the intensity of referredpain/sensations provoked by palpation, the areas of referred pain/sensation, as well as theirduration after stimulus removal. This double-blind clinical trial will be conducted on a sampleof adult who meet the inclusion criteria. The socioeconomic status (according to the IBGEcriteria), the presence and classification of TMD (Diagnostic Criteria for TemporomandibularDisorders-DC/TMD), and of primary headaches (criteria of the International Classification ofHeadache Disorders-3rd Edition). The sample will be stratified into 4 study groups: controlgroup; muscle TMD group, migraine group, muscle TMD group + migraine. A standardizedpalpation will be performed, with the aid of a palpometer with different intensities (0.5; 1; 2 kg)and locations (temporal, masseter, TMJ bilaterally and thenar muscle of the dominant hand).With the results of the evaluations, we aim to determine whether standardized palpation atdifferent intensities causes referred pain and/or sensations differently between the studygroups.We hypothesize that the group muscle TMD + Migraine presents more referred painor sensations than the individuals with these conditions isolated or the control group.