What does the research say about Dry Needling for TMJ?
Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is cited as the third most prominent pain condition worldwide [1]. Many people who experience TMD have symptoms including headaches and neck pain in addition to pain at the TMJ. Some patients seek out Dry Needling for TMJ related pain and dysfunction.
While many patients with TMD seek conservative treatment, evidence lacks definitive support for common electrophysical treatments such as laser therapy, ultrasound, TENS, or iontophoresis [1]. If you or someone you know has TMD, you know that many treatments exist for TMD. You also know that results vary widely from person to person.
Multiple therapeutic strategies, such as traditional physiotherapy and regenerative infiltrations, have been implemented to alleviate pain associated with the musculoskeletal pathology thought to affect TMD, however evidence remains limited in these areas as well [2].
Dry needling has been shown to be effective at addressing pain and function in patients experiencing TMD [1][2][3].
What the Research Shows
Now, I tend to be one of those people that has to dig into something before I recommend it to family, friends, or patients. So, years ago, when I first heard of Dry Needling for TMJ, I was skeptical. Just like when kinesiotape became popular, sometimes new treatment techniques gain a lot of popularity and turn into fad. You end up with some people claiming that this new technique is the silver bullet for pain, weakness, etc.
That being said, recently published research supports dry needling for TMJ pain and TMD. I’ve cited a few of these articles at the bottom of this article for reference. The main point is this: when compared to other conservative treatments for TMJ, dry needling has been show to be as effective, if not more effective at reducing pain and restoring normal muscle tone.
“Superficial Dry Needling showed better pain-reduction efficacy in patients with myofascial temporomandibular disorder. ” [3]
In fact, when testing superficial dry needling (a technique that involves inserting the needle into the muscle, but not going to deep) for TMD, it produced better pain reduction than traditional conservative treatments, like manual therapy, heat, ultrasound, etc.
Below I share a few other findings from the research around dry needling for TMD.
Is Dry Needling effective in treating TMD?
Research shows that patients with TMD who receive dry needling and upper cervical spine manipulation experienced significantly greater improvements in pain intensity and pain-free mouth- penning compared to patients who received interocclusal splint therapy, NSAIDs, and manual therapy of the TMJ [1].
Research also indicates that the effects of Dry Needling in patients with TMD include: significant reduction in facial pain, reduction in muscle tension, and a reduction in asymmetry of the arch when opening and closing the mouth [2].
Superficial dry needling has also been shown to produce better pain reduction in patients with myofascial TMD than other treatment methods [3].
How does Dry Needling Help patients with TMD?
Patients with TMD tend to exhibit both peripheral and central nerve pain, which can be effectively addressed with Dry Needling Treatment [1]. Research suggests that Dry Needling treatment for TMD can act as a neuromuscular de-programmer in pathological or affected tissues, and can play a role as the first step in a multidisciplinary therapeutic treatment of myofascial pain associated with TMD [3].
Summary
While the underlying factors affecting TMD vary from person to person, research supports dry needling as a treatment for jaw pain, especially when that pain results from myofascial dysfunction. I’m not going to tell you that it’s the only thing you’ll need. In fact, we take a 4-phase treatment approach here at ProActive, precisely because we know that it takes more than just one thing to effectively address pain.
That being said, if you or someone you know has been experiencing jaw pain related to TMJ/TMJ issues, dry needling may provide effective pain relief.
And, if you’re in the local area and would like to explore this treatment option, book at appointment or call the office to learn more.
References
[1] James Dunning , Raymond Butts , Paul Bliton , Konstantinos Vathrakokoilis , Grant Smith , Chelsea Lineberger , Noah Eshleman , César Fernández-de-Las-Peñas & Ian A. Young (2022) Dry needling and upper cervical spinal manipulation in patients with temporomandibular disorder: A multi-center randomized clinical trial, CRANIO®,DOI: 10.1080/08869634.2022.2062137
[2] Dib-Zakkour J, Flores-Fraile J, Montero-Martin J, Dib-Zakkour S, Dib- Zaitun I. Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Dry Needling in the Treatment of Myogenous Temporomandibular Joint Disorders. Medicina. 2022; 58(2):256. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina58020256
[3] Mehmet Cem Özden PhD, Berkem Atalay DDS, MSc, PhD, Ali Veysel Özden DDS, PhD, Abdülkadir Çankaya DDS, PhD, Erdinç Kolay PhD & Sami Yıldırım DDS, PhD (2020) Efficacy of dry needling in patients with myofascial temporomandibular disorders related to the masseter muscle, CRANIO®, 38:5, 305-311, DOI: 10.1080/08869634.2018.1526848
