According to a recent study published in the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, the muscle tenderness scores found to have significant associations with Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) features and co‐morbid pain states, which may indicate connections with disease severity.

The total tenderness score (TTS) is regularly employed in headache practice and presents useful information. This study aimed to determine muscle tenderness scores among TMD patients and examine their connections with several clinical and demographic parameters.

A total of 99 controls and 192 TMD patients were selected to analyze cervical (CTS), masticatory (MTS), and TTSs. A questionnaire, along with the clinical examination, was included after the RDC/TMD guidelines. T-test, Pearson's chi‐square, Bonferroni post hoc, and analysis of variance were used for data assessment. Further, a conceptual hierarchical multiple regression model was applied to investigate the factors connected with MTS score.

Different TTS and MTS were seen in controls and TMD sub‐groups. A positive relationship was seen between muscle tenderness and whiplash history, co‐morbid pains, female sex, and parafunction. The pain onset, co‐morbid pains, frequency and duration, were acted as the mediators in TMD diagnosis and MTS during the conceptual hierarchical multiple regression model. MTS was found to be positively related to the features of TMD and other pain conditions, indicating a significant relationship with disease severity.