Abstract
By focusing attention on the psychological aspects of patients with Myofascial Pain Dysfunction (MPD) Syndrome treated in this department, we have encountered many instances of chronic fatigue due to excessive adaptation in daily life. When these patients obey instructions to chew well, to enjoy leisurely meals, and to allow for sufficient sleep, improvement in the symptoms of stiffness and tenderness of the masticatory muscles and an increased incisal opening occurs in a majority of patients.
In order to evaluate eating habits as risk factors in MPD syndrome, guidance for changing habits was provided with reference to the masticatory patterns, time spent for meals, and ideal amounts of sleep. The results of the data gathered were used to study changes in habits and the corresponding reduction in MPD symptoms. 150 patients, 42 male and 108 female, were observed in this study. In patients with improvement in habits, there was an increased improvement in MPD symptoms, as compared to those who failed to change their habits. When studying the individual habit changes, we noted a higher frequency of MPD symptom improvement in those patients who displayed an improved masticatory pattern. In 26 males (84%) and 61 females (73%), there was an improvement in MPD symptoms 2 weeks after the frequency of mastication improved.
MPD symptoms decreased in 15 males (71%) and 33 females (55%) who had increased eating time for 2 weeks.
In 10 males (82%) and 45 females (63%) MPD symptoms improve for those patients who increased their sleep time for a period of 2 weeks.
In patients with MPD syndrome, the presence of risk factors, especially poor eating habits, is strongly suspected to be contributory.
