Yoga for myofascial pain of masticatory muscles - a development and feasibility study

Myofascial pain of masticatory muscles or jaw muscle pain, a common component of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) often comes with substantial burden and high healthcare expenses. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of yoga in students experiencing myofascial pain.

Prospective participants were identified through jaw health screening. 25 students diagnosed with myofascial pain (Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMDs) volunteered for this randomized controlled study. Participants were randomized to one of two interventions for 28 days: either a yoga-inclusive management programme or an active control standard care. The clinical assessors were unaware of the assigned intervention. The primary outcomes were feasibility (adherence) and acceptability (perceived helpfulness and willingness to continue). Secondary exploratory outcomes included pain intensity and distribution, jaw function, oral health-related quality of life, psychosocial measures, and clinician-assessed palpation tenderness.

18 (8 yoga; 10 controls) participants completed the study. Adherence was significantly higher in the yoga group (85%) compared with controls (68%, p = 0.048). Yoga participants rated greater perceived benefit (mean 6.3 vs 3.0, p = 0.030) and all expressed willingness to continue beyond the study (vs 50% of controls). Exploratory analyses suggested within-group improvements in pain distribution, jaw function, and pain catastrophizing in the yoga group, though between-group differences in clinical outcomes were not significant.

This study provides valuable preliminary insights into intervention's implementation and offers a foundation for future trials.

This study was retrospectively registered with Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ( https://www.anzctr.org.au/ ) (Trial Id: ACTRN12623000069651).