The Impact of Electromyography Biofeedback Training on Myofascial Pain on Patients with Bruxism

Abstract Background: Bruxism is a movement disorder affecting the masticatory muscles characterized by hyperactivity leading to myofascial pain and disability. The use of the Electromy-ography biofeedback training is widely used in management of such cases. Aim of Study: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of electromyography biofeedback training on myofascial pain on patients with bruxism. Material and Methods: A randomized control trial was conducted in the Electromyography Research Lab of the faculty of physical therapy in Misr University for science and technology (MUST). The study was conducted in 29/11/2020 and ended up in 4/2/2021, patients had been diagnosed and referred from oral and maxillofacial department, college of Oral and Dental Surgery, Misr University for Science and Technology (MUST). Thirty patients of both genders definite bruxism had been recruited in this study. Patients had been divided equally and randomly into two equal groups; group (A): Treated by pharmacological therapy including muscle relaxant and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and group (B): Treated by the same pharma-cological therapy in addition to electromyography biofeedback training for four weeks with frequency of three sessions per week, day after day. Myofascial pain was assessed pre- and post- study using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the digital palpating scale (DPS). Results: Statistical analysis showed that there was signif-icant difference between the pre- and post- study values of VAS in both groups; group A and B, (p=0.008) and (p=0.001) respectively. There was a highly significant difference in post-study values of DPS in group B (p=0.001) compared to group A in which the mean ±  SD of DPS for subjects in group A were 1±0.59 while in group B was 0±0.
Conclusion: This study showed that electromyography biofeedback training is an effective line of treatment for myofascial pain for patients suffering from bruxism.