顎関節症患者に対する低出力レーザー効果に関する臨床的研究 サーモグラフィ所見を中心に

Abstract

If a portion of the muscle for mastication is affected by localized, continuous deterioration of muscle tone, metabolic disturbance caused by localized anemia causes pain. In turn, this pain, causes neuralgic dysfunction and abnormal jaw movement: a condition known as myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome (MPD syndrome).The authors measured the skin surface temperature in the area of the temporomandibular joint of patients suffering from MPD syndrome and compared the skin surface temperature rise on both affected and healthy sides after exercising the jaw. We found that the temperature rise rate of the healthy side was greater than that of the affected side. But after treatment temperature rise rate differences between the affected and healthy sides lessened.Acupuncture of the meridian point of “Gekan” has been used to treat the inferior articulator of the patients. Instead of using needle, the authors irradiated the inferior articulator several times with a low power laser (Nd: YAG at 350 mW). This relieved the pain somewhat, but since the treatment's results were evaluated by the subjective judgement of the patient alone, the authors used thermography to make an objective evaluation of symptomatic changes with the result reported in this article.