Comparison of the Effectiveness of Three Different Acupuncture Methods for TMD-Related Pain: A Randomized Clinical Study

Overview

Journal Evid Based Complement Alternat Med

Specialty Rehabilitation Medicine

Date 2021 Dec 3

PMID 34858506

Authors

Emanuela Serritella

Gabriella Galluccio

Alessandra Impellizzeri

Paola Di Giacomo

Carlo Di Paolo

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of three acupuncture methods for temporomandibular disorders- (TMDs-) related pain.

Materials And Methods: Different locations of pain, according to DC/TMD clinical assessment, were considered: temporomandibular joint (TMJ), masticatory muscles, head, and neck. Sixty patients were assigned randomly to one of three treatment groups (20 patients in each): group BA received body acupuncture, group EA received electroacupuncture, and group CA received acupuncture + cupping. The groups were compared in terms of pain (verbal numeric scale), pain-related disability (Brief Inventory Pain, BPI), and impression of the treatment's effectiveness (Patients' Global Impression of Improvement Scale, PGI-I). These were recorded before sessions of acupuncture treatment (T0), after 8 sessions of acupuncture treatment (T1), and after 4 weeks of follow-up after treatment (T2). The between-group and within-group differences in the data were analyzed statistically. The baseline characteristics were similar in all groups ( > 0.05).

Results: Significant improvements were noted in all types of pain compared to baseline values in all groups (all < 0.05). No significant differences were noted in the improvement of TMDs-related pain according to the different acupuncture techniques (all > 0.05). All acupuncture methods used resulted to be significantly effective in improving the pain-related interference in the patient's common activities and quality of life. EA resulted to be significantly more effective than BA and CA in improving the interference of pain with patients' mood (=0.015) and quality of sleep (=0.014).

Conclusion: BA, EA, and CA are all effective acupuncture methods in reducing pain and pain interference with common activities and quality of life in patients affected by TMD.

Citing Articles

Comparative effectiveness of traditional East Asian medicine treatments for temporomandibular joint disorders: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Ha S, Kang S, Lee S Integr Med Res. 2025; 14(1):101114.

PMID: 39926698 PMC: 11804559. DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2024.101114.

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