A recent randomized controlled trial and review of the literature depicted that photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) is an exemplary therapeutic approach for the management of myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome. The study, which involved forty patients aged between 18 and 40 years, aimed to compare the outcomes of two treatment approaches: PBMT and skeletal muscle relaxants.

The participants were randomly divided into two groups: Group A, consisting of 20 patients, received PBMT biweekly for a duration of three weeks, while Group B, also comprising 20 patients, received skeletal muscle relaxants three times daily over a period of two weeks. The pain experienced by the participants was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS), and their inter-incisal distance was measured using a vernier caliper.

Using a paired t-test, the data was examined. A profound difference was observed between the baseline and post-therapy values of both VAS scores and mouth opening measurements in both the case and control groups (p < 0.05). As found, PBMT led to a remarkable decrease in pain among the volunteers. Furthermore, a majority of patients in the PBMT group reported improvement in mouth opening when compared to the skeletal muscle relaxants recipients.

These findings highlight the potential of PBMT as an effective therapeutic option for the conservative management of myofascial pain. One of the key advantages of PBMT is its non-invasiveness, making it a favorable treatment approach for individuals seeking conservative options. Additionally, no known side effects were reported during the study, further emphasizing the safety of this therapy.

This study contributes to the growing body of research in the field of pain management and provides healthcare professionals and patients with valuable insights into alternative treatment options for myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome.