Evaluation of TENS therapy and Placebo drug therapy in the management of TMJ pain disorders: A comparative study

Abstract

Background: In recent times, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy and placebo drug therapy have been studied widely in the management of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain; but at the individual level. Thus, it was required to compare the efficacy of TENS and placebo drug therapy in patients with TMJ pain disorders. Aims: To determine the effectiveness of TENS therapy and placebo drug therapy in the treatment of TMJ pain disorders and to compare the efficacy of both. Settings and Design: A comparative study was done with 40 subjects reporting with the chief complaint of TMJ pain by dividing them into two groups through randomization. Materials and Methods: Subjects of either sex in the age group of 18-60 years and diagnosed with TMJ pain disorders were considered and divided into two equal groups of 20 patients each as Group I and Group II. Group I patients were advised TENS therapy once in a week for 4 weeks and were followed up in the fifth week. In Group II, placebo was given once daily for 4 weeks and follow-up was done in the fifth week. TMJ pain before, during, and at the completion of the treatment was measured in terms of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Statistical Analysis: Z-test for proportion and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used. Results: A significant improvement in the tenderness of muscles and TMJ and for maximum mouth opening bilaterally was observed in Group I during different visits. It was also observed that the average values for pain and tenderness of the muscles and TMJ in TENS therapy for the different visits including follow-up were less compared to the values in placebo drug therapy. Conclusion: TENS therapy proved to be one of the widely and most effectively used treatment modalities with its multifaceted approach toward the treatment of the TMJ pain disorders as compared to placebo therapy.