ABSTRACT
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Chronic myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome (MPDS) has been a nightmare for patients suffering from it, who have been treated with various treatment options with varied outcomes. This population of patients has been neglected, due to nagging revisits to a clinician and decreased percentage of success. OBJECTIVE: T-Scan-based immediate complete anterior guidance development (ICAGD) has been shown by a researcher to reduce the muscle hyperactivity consistent with MPDS. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of reduced disclusion time in lateral excursions in treating the MPDS symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-one myofascial pain patients with symptoms in the area of the head and neck region were treated with ICAGD. The quantified force and time data from T-Scan records were used to correct the prolonged disclusion time, and the subjects were assessed for the symptom relief. The Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test was used for statistical analysis (P<0·05 denotes significant changes). RESULTS: The changes in disclusion time and intensity of various symptoms were found to be statistically significant (P<0·05) from Day 1 onwards, and patients were relieved of their symptoms after reduction of disclusion time of less than 0·5 seconds. CONCLUSION: The results clearly indicated that ICAGD protocol reduces musculoskeletal-based symptoms of MPDS patients, and this protocol can prove beneficial for the clinical treatment success.