Evaluation of laser therapy and routine treatment modalities in the management of myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of laser as a monotherapy and in combination with exercise therapy in comparison to only exercise in the treatment of Myofascial Pain Dysfunction Syndrome (MPDS) or Temporomandibular Myofascial Pain. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 patients with MPDS were included in the study and were randomly divided into three groups: exercise, laser, and the combination of both (exercise and laser). Results: Significant reduction in pain at rest and pain on movement was observed with all three types of treatment modalities. Pain reduction was more in those patients who received combination of exercise and laser therapy. Similarly, decrease in the muscle tenderness was more when combination of exercise and laser therapy was used. Conclusion: The ideal therapy should be fast, cheap, and have a long-term effect. Laser (Helium Neon) as monotherapy or in combination with exercise had shown promising results and can be used as an effective treatment modality for the treatment of MPDS.