According to a study issued in the “Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International”, ultrasound is a safe, effective, non-invasive adjuvant therapeutic modality with good patient compliance for the management of myofascial pain involving masticatory muscles. Harini Valluri and colleagues performed this randomized clinical trial to determine ultrasound as an effective adjuvant for masticatory myofascial pain.

Thirty people (aged more than 18 years, 20 females and 10 males) clinically diagnosed with myofascial pain were enrolled. These participants were randomized into two groups with 15 in each group:

• Group A: Ultrasound therapy + Tizanidine 2 mg twice daily for 14 days
• Group B: Tizanidine alone

Evaluations included maximum inter-incisal distance, the sensitivity of muscles of mastication on palpation, pain while eating and mandibular movements at baseline, after a week and after two weeks. Patients in both groups experienced a considerable lowering in pain and had improvement in mouth opening. But, patients in group A had a greater and statistically significant relief compared to the other group from the 7th day to the 14th day. No adverse effects were reported. Hence, ultrasound therapy can be used as an efficacious therapeutic adjuvant for myofascial pain management.