Comparison of the efficacy of a muscle relaxant-Tizanidine with Low level laser therapy in treatment of Myofascial and TMJ pain dysfunction syndrome

This study will include patients attending the outpatient department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery with symptoms of myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome and temporomandibular joint disorders such as pre auricular pain reduced mouth opening muscle tenderness and TMJ sounds. All eligible patients will be enrolled after thorough history taking with special attention to any past allergic reactions to muscle relaxants or analgesics.

After obtaining informed consent patients will be randomly divided into two groups. Group A will receive red light therapy using a low level laser of 660 nm wavelength for three minutes per session three times per week for two weeks along with diclofenac as rescue medication. Group B will receive tizanidine four milligrams once daily for two weeks along with diclofenac as rescue medication. All medications will be provided free of cost.

Baseline assessment will include pain evaluation using visual analog scale measurement of mouth opening and assessment of TMJ sounds. Patients will be followed up on day seven day fourteen and up to one month after treatment to evaluate pain reduction improvement in jaw mobility muscle relaxation and TMJ sounds. Patients will also report the number of diclofenac tablets consumed which will be recorded for analysis.