Dry needling for jaw muscle pain
Part of Bones, joints & muscles, Pain clinical trials.
This study compares two dry needling techniques to relieve pain in the jaw muscles (masseter and temporalis). It may help people with myofascial pain, a common cause of jaw discomfort and headaches.
Summary written for real people, not researchers, by Clin2.
Who can take part
- You have jaw muscle pain (with or without pain spreading to other areas) that fits the official criteria for myofascial pain.
- You have at least one active trigger point (a tender knot) that reproduces your main pain when pressed.
- Your average pain in the last two weeks was at least 2 on a 0-10 scale.
- You have increased sensitivity in the jaw muscles when pressed (pressure pain threshold ≤ 1.5 kg/cm²).
- You have not had jaw pain treatment (like physical therapy, needling, or laser) in the last 3 months, or Botox in the face/jaw area in the last 12 months.
- You are not taking daily painkillers, anti-inflammatories, or muscle relaxants, and you do not have certain other conditions (like fibromyalgia or needle phobia).
Quick eligibility check
Answer a few plain-language questions, based on this study's own requirements, to get a preliminary sense of fit.
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