Agulhamento seco para tratamento de dores miofasciais com referência: uma cartilha destinada à estudantes do curso de odontologia

Abstract

Myofascial pain with reference is one of the diagnoses for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). This is a type of muscular TMD, characterized by the presence of one or several trigger points (TP) in the muscles of origin. These trigger points generate referred pain in regions external to the affected muscle and have an uncertain and multifactorial etiology. Dry needling is one of the specific therapies to eliminate or deactivate TPs. There was a lack of easily understood and accessible information about dry needling for the treatment of myofascial pain with reference to online and manual resources. Thus, the relevance of developing a booklet became evident, in which the benefits of dry needling for patients diagnosed with this type of TMD are highlighted. The purpose of this research was to develop a booklet on dry needling for the treatment of myofascial pain with reference and disseminate this information to dentistry students. The information in the booklet was gathered through a literature review conducted in major health databases such as Scielo, PubMed, and Google Scholar. The searches focused on systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and randomized clinical trials. The booklet clarified the definition of what myofascial pain with reference is, how to diagnose it, and the etiological factors involved. It also presented dry needling as a treatment, highlighting its indications and advantages, the execution technique, as well as a basic protocol and the materials needed to carry it out. In order to provide additional information, the booklet also included a section with frequently asked questions related to the treatment of myofascial pain with reference.