Effectiveness of 4 weeks of electrical vestibular stimulation in the management of temporomandibular pain

Authors

  • Yashica Gowda R Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Chikkaballapur Institute of Medical Sciences, Chikkaballapur, Karnataka, India https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2397-4832
  • Asha G Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Chikkaballapur Institute of Medical Sciences, Chikkaballapur, Karnataka, India https://orcid.org/0009-0001-5906-8347
  • Doreswamy Kanakaiah Associate Professor, Department of General Surgery, Chikkaballapur Institute of Medical Sciences, Chikkaballapur, Karnataka, India
  • Karthik N Assistant Professor, Department of General Surgery, Chikkaballapur Institute of Medical Sciences, Chikkaballapur, Karnataka, India https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7377-0899
  • Sai Sailesh Kumar Goothy Professor, Department of Physiology, NRI Institute of Medical Sciences, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2578-6420
  • Mukkadan JK Research Director, Department of Research, Little Flower Medical Research Centre, Angamaly, Kerala, India

Keywords:

Pain; Vestibular system; Sixth sense; Electrical stimulation

Abstract

Background: The non-surgical therapies prevail over surgical therapies in the management of temporomandibular disorders pain. Vestibular stimulation was known to relieve pain through its connections with analgesic brain areas. Although there is literature that supports the analgesic effect of vestibular stimulation, the research studies in this area are comparatively less in Indian settings. Hence, the present study was undertaken.

Aims and Objectives: The present study was undertaken to observe the effectiveness of 4 weeks of electrical vestibular stimulation in managing temporomandibular pain.

Materials and Methods: Sixty male and female participants who reported temporomandibular pain were recruited. They were then randomly assigned into two groups. The intervention group received electrical vestibular nerve stimulation for 4 weeks and regular treatment as an adjunctive therapy. Placebo stimulation was administered to the control group along with the regular treatment. The numerical pain rating scale, the Jaw functional limitation scale-8, and depression anxiety stress scales-21 were used in the study.

Results: Pain score, jaw function score, and psychological parameters before intervention in the study and control groups were not significantly different. However, the pain score, jaw function score, and psychological parameters after intervention in the study group were significantly lower than in the control group.

Conclusion: The study results support the analgesic effects of electrical vestibular nerve stimulation in pain management in patients with temporomandibular pain. The study recommends more studies in this area to recommend the implementation of electrical vestibular stimulation in the management of temporomandibular pain.

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Published

2025-02-01

How to Cite

Yashica Gowda R, Asha G, Doreswamy Kanakaiah, Karthik N, Sai Sailesh Kumar Goothy, & Mukkadan JK. (2025). Effectiveness of 4 weeks of electrical vestibular stimulation in the management of temporomandibular pain. Asian Journal of Medical Sciences, 16(2), 119–122. Retrieved from https://nepjol.info/index.php/AJMS/article/view/71932

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 2 (2025)

Section

Original Articles

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Copyright (c) 2025 Asian Journal of Medical Sciences

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