The Influence of Myofascial Temporomandibular Disorder Pain on the Pressure Pain Threshold of Women During a Migraine Attack

Abstract

To assess the influence of myofascial temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain on the pressure pain threshold (PPT) of masticatory muscles in women during a migraine attack. The sample comprised 34 women, 18 to 60 years of age, with a diagnosis of episodic migraine previously confirmed by a neurologist. All subjects were evaluated using the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (RDC/TMD) to determine the presence of myofascial pain. They were divided into two groups: group 1 (n = 18) included women with migraine; group 2 (n = 16) included women with migraine and myofascial TMD pain. Participants were evaluated by measuring PPT values of the masseter and anterior temporalis muscles and Achilles tendon with a pressure algometer at two moments: pain free and during a migraine attack. A three-way analysis of variance with a 5% significance level was used for statistical purposes. Significantly lower PPT values were found during the migraine attack, especially for women with concomitant myofascial pain, regardless of the side of the reported pain. Migraine attack is associated with a significant reduction in PPT values of masticatory muscles, which appears to be influenced by the presence of myofascial TMD pain.