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. 2017 Mar 3;96(9):e6064. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000006064

Acupuncture therapy in the management of the clinical outcomes for temporomandibular disorders

A PRISMA-compliant meta-analysis

Jun-Yi Wu a,b, Chao Zhang a, Yang-Peng Xu b, Ya-Yu Yu b, Le Peng b, Wei-Dong Leng c, Yu-Ming Niu a,c,∗, Mo-Hong Deng d,∗
Editor: Priscila Lie Tobouti
PMCID: PMC5340435  PMID: 28248862

Abstract

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate conventional acupuncture therapy in the management of clinical outcomes for temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in adults.

Methods:

The electronic databases PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Clinical Trails.gov were searched for reports published until March 31, 2016.

Results:

Nine eligible studies from 8 publications involving 231 patients were included in the meta-analysis. A comparison of the main outcome of visual analog scale (VAS) values of pain between the acupuncture group and control group showed a significant decrease (MD = −0.98, 95% CI [−1.62, −0.34], I2=54%, P = 0.003) in the VAS following acupuncture treatment. However, subgroup analysis according to the type of sham control group indicated that there were significant differences in the results when sham acupuncture was used as the control group (MD = −1.54, 95% CI [−2.63, −0.45], I2=58%, P = 0.006) as well as when sham laser treatment was used as the control group (MD = −1.29, 95% CI [−2.32, −0.27], I2 = 0%, P = 0.01). However, there was no significant difference when the splint treatment group was used as the control group (MD = −0.09, 95% CI [−0.69, 0.50], I2 = 0%, P = 0.76). Subgroup analyses of VAS for pain by the classification of diseases indicated that the myogenous TMD subgroup demonstrated a significant difference (MD = −1.49, 95% CI [−2.45, −0.53], I2 = 47%, P = 0.002), and TMD showed no statistically significant difference (MD = −0.42, 95% CI [−1.14, 0.30], I2 = 46%, P = 0.25). Subgroup analysis according to whether the subgroup penetrated the skin showed that nonpenetrating sham acupuncture as the control group showed a significant difference (MD = −1.56, 95% CI [−2.70, −0.41], I2 = 58%, P = 0.008) compared with the conventional acupuncture as the treatment modality, while penetrating sham acupuncture as the control group showed no significant difference (MD = −1.29, 95% CI [−3.40, 0.82], I2 = not applicable, P = 0.23). No publication bias was observed considering the symmetry of the funnel plots.

Conclusions:

Our results indicate that conventional acupuncture therapy is effective in reducing the degree of pain in patients with TMD, especially those with myofascial pain symptoms.

Keywords: acupuncture, meta-analysis, temporomandibular disorders, VAS of pain

1. Introduction

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a nonspecific diagnosis that represents a group of often painful and/or dysfunctional conditions involving the muscles of mastication and/or the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).[1] Epidemiological studies have shown that approximately 10% of the population is affected, and 30-year-old women are most likely to be affected by TMD.[2,3] The main signs and symptoms of TMD include TMJ clicking, acute or chronic myofascial or oral masticatory muscle pain, tenderness of the masticatory muscles, and abnormal jaw movements.[4–6]

The exact etiology of TMD is difficult to identify, but some studies have found the following contributing factors: occlusal abnormalities, psychological stress, orthodontic treatment, microtrauma, poor health and nutrition, joint laxity, and exogenous estrogen.[7,8] The American Academy of Orofacial Pain[9] classification system divides TMD into 2 groups: myogenous TMD, which is related to masticatory muscle disorders, and arthrogenous TMD, which is related to the TMJ itself. Epidemiological studies have shown that most TMD patients are diagnosed with myofascial pain.[10]

Currently, there is a lack of consensus regarding the most efficacious treatment approach for TMD because of its multifactorial nature. Various treatments have been implemented for the treatment of TMD, including pharmacological therapy, psychological therapy, occlusal therapy, physical therapy, cognitive therapy, acupuncture therapy, and surgical interventions.[11–14] In cases of myofascial pain, strategies often target muscle relaxation.[5] Acupuncture is a commonly used strategy for pain relief in these cases, in which an acupuncture needle or, more often, multiple needles are inserted at the appropriate acupuncture points.[15–17] Therefore, we performed this meta-analysis to elucidate the properties of acupuncture by comparing the clinical effects of acupuncture for the treatment of TMD through combining all of the relevant clinical studies.[18] This meta-analysis was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis statement.[19]

2. Materials and methods

2.1. Search strategy

We conducted a search of 4 electronic databases, namely PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Clinical Trails.gov, from the building database until March 31, 2016, for eligible randomized or parallel-group design clinical trials that evaluated the effectiveness of acupuncture therapy in patients with TMD. The following Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and text words were used: “temporomandibular,” “temporomandibular disorders,” “TMD,” “temporomandibular joint disorders,” “TMJ,” and “acupuncture.”

2.2. Literature selection and exclusion

All of the studies were selected in accordance with the following inclusion criteria: randomized or parallel-group design clinical trial, including only TMD patients older than 18 years, comparing the effectiveness of acupuncture therapy, including only patients diagnosed with TMD (including but not limited to: osteoarthritis, TMJ clicking or anterior disc displacement with or without reduction), including patients who have not received any TMD treatment prior to the study, and investigating one of the following outcomes: ① a change in the visual analog scale measurement (VAS) for pain, ② a change in maximum mouth opening (MMO) without examiner intervention, ③ a change in the VAS of masseter muscle tenderness upon palpation, or ④ a change in the VAS of functional impairment. The change in the VAS score for pain was the main outcome investigated, and the others were secondary outcomes.

Studies were excluded in accordance with the following criteria: if pain at rest was used as the pain score, the study was a duplicate, the data cannot be extracted or obtained through contact with the author, and too little information to calculate the missing standard deviations (SD) was provided.

2.3. Data extraction

The relevant information, including the study design, patient characteristics, interventions, comparisons, and outcomes, was independently extracted and entered into a database by 2 of the investigators. When the relevant research information was missing, particularly the study design or outcome information, we contacted the original authors for clarification.

Disagreements between the 2 authors regarding data extraction were resolved by discussion. If the dispute persisted, other senior investigators were consulted to attain a consensus.

2.4. Statistical analysis

When describing all of the outcomes based on continuous data under a unified measurement standard, we used the weighted mean difference (MD),[20] 95% confidence interval (CI) and P≤0.05; otherwise, the standardized mean difference (SMD), 95% confidence interval (CI) and P≤0.05 were employed. All of the outcome data were processed using RevMan 5.3 (Cochran Collaboration, London, UK) software. All of the missing SDs were estimated from the relevant P values.[21] We performed a statistical test for heterogeneity[22] and adopted an I2 greater than 50% as evidence for heterogeneity according to the Cochrane handbook.[20] If the data were homogeneous under a fixed-effects model, the 3 confounding factors, including the type of sham control group, classification of diseases, and the control group according to whether to penetrate the skin, were identified as the key sources of heterogeneity in the main outcomes.[22] Heterogeneity was then dealt with using subgroups according to these modifiers. If the data were still heterogeneous, we performed a random-effects model.[22]

The symmetry of a funnel plot was used to qualitatively determine whether there was publication bias.[23] In a funnel plot, larger studies that provide a more precise estimate of an intervention's effect form the spout of the funnel, whereas smaller studies with less precision form the cone end of the funnel. Asymmetry in the funnel plot indicates potential publication bias.

3. Results

3.1. Study selection and data collection

We identified 382 potentially relevant publications in the electronic databases (Fig. 1). Employing the selection criteria, we obtained quantitative data for our meta-analysis after reading all titles, abstracts, and full texts. Nine eligible studies from 8 publications[24–31] were included in our final analysis.

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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Summary of trial identification and selection.

3.2. Study characteristics

We investigated the 9 eligible studies from 8 publications [24–31] involving 231 patients. The VAS of pain was determined for all patients from these 9 studies.[24–31] The change in MMO was blended in 100 patients of 3 studies.[24,27,29] The VAS of muscle tenderness was involved in 46 patients of 2 studies.[25,29] The VAS of functional impairment included 74 patients of 3 studies.[27,31]Table 1 describes the clinical characteristics of all 9 studies.

Table 1.

Characteristics information of included studies.

3.2.

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3.3. VAS of pain

A comparison of the VAS of pain between the acupuncture group and control group indicated a significant decrease (MD = −0.98, 95% CI [–1.62,–0.34], I2=54%, P = 0.003) under the random-effects model.

Subgroup analysis of VAS for pain according to the type of control group under the random-effects model, as shown in Fig. 2, indicated that sham acupuncture as the control group (MD=−1.54, 95% CI [−2.63, −0.45], I2=58%, P = 0.006) and sham laser treatment as the control group (MD=−1.29, 95% CI [−2.32, −0.27], I2=0%, P = 0.01) showed a significant difference, but splint treatment as the control group (MD = −0.09, 95% CI [−0.69, 0.50], I2=0%, P = 0.76) showed no statistically significant difference.

Figure 2.

Figure 2

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Forest plot of subgroup analysis of VAS for pain according to the type of sham control group. VAS = visual analog scale.

Subgroup analysis of VAS for pain by the classification of diseases under the random-effects model, shown in Fig. 3, indicated that myogenous TMD showed a significant difference (MD = −1.49, 95% CI [−2.45, −0.53], I2=47%, P = 0.002), while TMD showed no statistically significant difference (MD=−0.42, 95% CI [−1.14, 0.30], I2=46%, P = 0.25).

Figure 3.

Figure 3

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Forest plot of subgroup analysis of VAS for pain according to the classification of diseases. VAS = visual analog scale.

The control subgroups were compared according to whether the control group treatment penetrated the skin (Fig. 4). Using the random-effects model, the overall results measuring the VAS of pain (MD=−1.49, 95% CI [−2.45, −0.53], I2=47%, P = 0.002) and nonpenetrating sham acupuncture as the control group (MD=−1.56, 95% CI [−2.70, −0.41], I2=58%, P = 0.008) showed significant differences, while penetrating sham acupuncture as the control group (MD=−1.29, 95% CI [−3.40, 0.82], I2= not applicable, P = 0.23) showed no significant difference.

Figure 4.

Figure 4

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Forest plot of subgroup analysis of VAS for pain according to whether to penetrate the skin in control group. VAS = visual analog scale.

3.4. Change in MMO

A comparison of the change in MMO between the acupuncture group and control group, shown in Fig. 5, indicated no statistically significant difference (MD=3.44, 95% CI [−2.71, 9.58], I2=91%, P = 0.27]) under the random-effects model. When analyzed by subgroup according to the classification of diseases, the myogenous TMD (or the sham acupuncture groups) showed no statistically significant difference in the change of MMO (MD=3.23, 95% CI [−5.65, 12.12], I2=95%, P = 0.48), and the TMD (or the sham laser treatment groups) showed no statistically significant difference in the change of MMO (MD=4.00, 95% CI [−0.53, 8.53], I2=not available, P = 0.08).

Figure 5.

Figure 5

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Forest plot of subgroup analysis of the change in MMO according to the classification of diseases. MMO = maximum mouth opening.

3.5. VAS of muscle tenderness

Using the fixed-effects model, a comparison of the VAS of muscle tenderness between the acupuncture group and control group (Fig. 6) showed a significant difference (SMD=−1.07, 95% CI [−1.70, −0.43], I2=37%, P = 0.001).

Figure 6.

Figure 6

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Forest plot of the VAS of muscle tenderness. VAS = visual analog scale.

3.6. VAS of functional impairment

Using the random-effects model, a comparison of the VAS of functional impairment between the acupuncture group and control group (Fig. 7) showed no statistically significant difference (MD=−1.15, 95% CI [−3.26, 0.96], I2=74%, P = 0.29).

Figure 7.

Figure 7

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Forest plot of the VAS of functional impairment. VAS = visual analog scale.

3.7. Publication bias

No publication biases were observed based on the symmetry of the funnel plots in all outcomes. The plot for the main outcome from the subgroup analysis of the VAS of pain according to the classification of diseases is shown in Fig. 8.

Figure 8.

Figure 8

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Funnel plot of subgroup analysis of the VAS of pain according to the classification of diseases. VAS = visual analog scale.

4. Discussion

Within this review, we developed explicit eligibility criteria using the Participants, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Study design format. We performed extensive and rigorous literature searches to identify potentially suitable articles in electronic databases. We also conducted meta-analyses to determine the overall treatment effect sizes. These ensured that our review could serve as a comprehensive summary of the available evidence at present. This meta-analysis evaluated 9 clinical trials that included TMD patients aged older than 18 years. In this study, acupuncture therapy was found to be superior to control therapy when measured by the VAS of pain and muscle tenderness. The specific subgroup results helped to refine the results and reveal parameters that may be helpful in the clinical practice of acupuncture for the management of pain in patients with TMD.

These results show that acupuncture was more effective than either sham acupuncture treatment or sham laser treatment, indicating that acupuncture is an effective tool for the management of pain in patients with TMD. Our results found no difference between acupuncture and splint treatment, but rather both of these treatments resulted in equivalent pain relief. Subgroup analysis, according to the classification of diseases, indicated that patients with myogenous TMD were more likely to benefit from acupuncture therapy than those with joint disorders. In 2009, Shen et al[26] found that a single acupuncture session reduced most myofascial pain endpoints of TMD. The results provided that penetrating sham acupuncture was shown to be more effective than nonpenetrating sham acupuncture for the relief of pain in this study and indicated that penetrating the skin was one of the key factors for the efficiency of acupuncture. However, Enblom et al and Ernst[32,33] in 2006 and 2008 reported that it was not penetrating versus nonpenetrating acupuncture per se, but rather the difference in the technique between different therapists, that may result in different requirement perceptions and blinding patterns. In 2011, Langevin et al[34] reported that there were few systematic investigations concerning which components of an acupuncture session may be important for any therapeutic effect, including needle placement and depth, and MacPherson et al,[35] in 2013, found little evidence that the effectiveness of acupuncture on pain was modified by the location of the needles. Additionally, Enck et al,[36] in 2010, deemed that real acupuncture and sham acupuncture produce similar effects. In the case of both MMO and functional impairment, our results showed that acupuncture had poor efficacy.

Several theses have been proposed to explain the mechanism of action of acupuncture. According to traditional Chinese medicine[37] (TCM), the human body contains a form of energy (qi) that flows throughout the body along clearly defined channels (meridians). When this sophisticated interconnected inner system is unbalanced, pain and disease will result. However, by inserting appropriate needles into specific points, the channels can be blocked, and the qi can once again flow fluently, and the rebalancing of the energy flow will both relieve the pain and eliminate the disease/disorder.[38,39] From the perspective of analgesic mechanism, some researchers have found that acupuncture can reduce the release of endogenous opiates (such as β-endorphin, enkephalin, endomorphin, and dynorphin[40–43] from the pituitary gland into the plasma, thereby resulting in analgesia in the central nervous system). In addition to the opioids, 5-HT (5-hydroxytryptamine [serotonin]) is believed to play an important role in acupuncture analgesia.[44] Tsai et al[45] found 5-HT release upon the activation of enkephalin-containing interneurons, which presynaptically inhibit the primary sensory neurons in the spinal cord. When the body is in a state of persistent inflammation, peptides can reduce the accompanying hyperalgesia, and immune cells will produce endogenous opiates.[46–48] Sekido et al[46] found that peripheral opioid receptors are involved in acupuncture analgesia during inflammatory conditions via local blockade rather than via systemic blockade of opioid receptors.

Some limitations in our manuscript should be addressed. First, only a few clinical trials met all of the inclusion and exclusion criteria; therefore, more clinical studies are required to confirm our results.[20] Second, some clinical trials had missing data on basic characteristics, possibly falsely increasing the heterogeneity owing to the failure to perform metaregression for confounding factors.[49,50] Although we estimated the missing SD from P values, this issue could lead to errors.[21]

5. Conclusion

This study compared the clinical effectiveness of acupuncture therapy in TMD patients through the meta-analysis of published results. Our results indicate that acupuncture therapy penetrating the skin has greater effectiveness and reduces the pain degree to a greater extent, especially myofascial pain symptoms, compared with both sham nonpenetrating acupuncture and sham laser therapy.

Footnotes

Abbreviations: 5-HT = 5-hydroxytryptamine, CI = confidence interval, MD = difference in means, MeSH = medical subject headings, MMO = maximum mouth opening, PRISMA = preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis, SD = standard deviations, SMD = standardized mean difference, TCM = traditional Chinese medicine, TMD = temporomandibular disorders, TMJ = temporomandibular joint, VAS = visual analog scale.

J-YW and Y-MN had full access to all of the data in the study, and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. J-YW, CZ, and Y-MN designed the study. Y-PX and Y-YY developed and tested the data collection forms. W-DL, LP, and J-YW acquired the data. M-HD and J-YW conducted the analysis and interpreted the data. J-YW and Y-MN drafted the manuscript. All authors critically revised the manuscript. Y-MN and M-HD had guarantor.

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

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