Electrical Stimulation of the Mandibular Nerve for Pain and Function Management in Temporomandibular Disorders
Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) encompass dysfunction and pain of the masticatory muscles and temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Pain in the TMJ, restricted jaw movement, and joint sounds are common conditions in this disorder. This can impact patients' ability to perform daily activities such as eating, speaking, laughing, or yawning, significantly affecting their quality of life.

The TMJ and masticatory muscles are innervated by the auriculotemporal branch and the mandibular nerve (V3), a branch of the trigeminal nerve. An estimated 60% to 70% of the population shows signs of TMD, of which up to 12% report intense symptoms requiring treatment.

Percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS) could be a clinically relevant therapy in TMD patients applied through minimally invasive physiotherapy. To our knowledge, there are no trials evaluating the non-surgical clinical efficacy of PENS on the mandibular nerve.

The project's objective is to assess the effectiveness of PENS on the mandibular nerve in this type of condition.
- EligibilityCriteria: Inclusion Criteria:  Patients with local myofascial pain and/or increased tension in the masticatory muscles. Patients with myofascial pain from temporomandibular disorder (TMD) at the time, diagnosed according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD). Absence of temporomandibular disc displacement with or without reduction. Pain in the masticatory muscles associated with limited mouth opening (<40mm). Good general health (absence of chronic diseases that may affect the temporomandibular joint or masticatory muscles). Written consent to participate in the study.  Exclusion Criteria:  Injury to the face or head during the research participation. Undergone surgical procedures performed in the craniocervical region and degenerative neurological diseases. Sudden illness of the patient that prevented participation in the study. Will to end participation in the study. Less than 2 weeks of evolution. Inability to understand instructions or sign the informed consent. Minor patients. Regular medication, such as muscle relaxants, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, or anxiolytics Facial paralysis. Presenting a disease or infectious/inflammatory process of dental origin. - HealthyVolunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers - Gender: All - MinimumAge: 18 Years - MaximumAge: 65 Years - StdAgeList: Adult, Older Adult