What effect does Muscle Energy Technique applied to the temporomandibular joint have upon Pain Pressure Threshold and Gamma Oscillations?
Item
- Title
- What effect does Muscle Energy Technique applied to the temporomandibular joint have upon Pain Pressure Threshold and Gamma Oscillations?
- Author(s)
- Dawson, R
- Abstract
- Background Gamma oscillations have been indicated to correlate with pain pressure threshold (Bright and Nottage, 2018). With the notion that gamma oscillations could be used therapeutically from top down approaches to pain in areas such as meditation (Hauswald, 2015) and visual orientated approaches (Welle and Contreras, 2016). It seems appropriate to consider whether gamma oscillations would also correlate the use of Muscle Energy Techniques (MET) due to the patient cooperation component which could be of relevance to a top-down approach approaches with regards to gamma oscillations and pain (Hauck et al., 2015). This enables a spatial awareness component which has been linked to gamma oscillations (Bieri et al, 2014; Trojan et al., 2014). Objective The objective is to answer the research question: Do gamma oscillations and PPT maintain a correlation before and immediately after an osteopathic intervention? Design Feasibility Study Methods There were 40 participants in two groups (intervention/control). Inclusion criteria were students from ESO cohort. Exclusion criteria were those suffering from TMD or known altered pain perception. Both groups had bilateral masseter pain pressure threshold (PPT) recorded as well as 5-minute baseline gamma oscillations before and after. Control group remained for 5 minutes without intervention whilst the intervention group received a bilateral MET to the TMJ. Results There was not a significant change in PPT though gamma increased by 16% in the intervention group compared to 1% in the control group. The change was not deemed to have a statistically significant (p>0.05) correlation in two-tailed correlation. Discussion The results are inconclusive due to the various mechanisms of action surrounding gamma oscillations and MET that are yet to be explained in a conclusive manner. Conclusion Before a correlation between manual therapy and gamma oscillations is tested, there needs to be further research into the mechanisms of action of MET and also role of gamma within pain science. Further research is needed into mechanisms of action before another correlation study would be likely to be beneficial to our understanding.
- presented at
- European School of Osteopathy
- Date Accepted
- 2019
- Date Submitted
- 19.11.2019 18:31:05
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 16489
- Inst-Identifier
- 1229
- Keywords
- Gamma oscillations, Muscle Energy Technique, Pain Pressure Threshold
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Dawson, R, “What effect does Muscle Energy Technique applied to the temporomandibular joint have upon Pain Pressure Threshold and Gamma Oscillations?”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 5, 2025, https://www.osteopathicresearch.org/s/orw/item/340