Chewing Muscle Disorders
Chewing muscle disorders, also known as masticatory muscle disorders, are a subgroup of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) that specifically involve the muscles responsible for chewing and jaw movement.
These disorders can cause pain, dysfunction, and discomfort in the muscles involved in the chewing process.
There are several types of chewing muscle disorders that can affect individuals:
1. Myalgia: Myalgia refers to muscle pain or discomfort. Chewing muscle myalgia is characterized by pain, tenderness, or stiffness in the muscles used for chewing, such as the masseter and temporalis muscles. It can be caused by muscle overuse, clenching, grinding of teeth (bruxism), stress, or muscle tension.
2. Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS): MPS is a condition that involves the development of trigger points within the muscles. These trigger points are highly sensitive areas that can cause referred pain, meaning the pain is felt in areas other than the trigger point itself. In the context of chewing muscle disorders, MPS can lead to localized or radiating pain in the muscles used for chewing.
3. Muscle Spasm: Chewing muscle spasms involve sudden and involuntary contractions of the chewing muscles. These spasms can cause significant pain, and difficulty in opening or closing the mouth, and can disrupt normal chewing and speech patterns.
4. Muscle Fatigue: Prolonged or excessive use of the chewing muscles can lead to muscle fatigue, which is characterized by a sense of tiredness, weakness, or loss of muscle strength. Individuals with muscle fatigue may experience difficulty in chewing or speaking for extended periods.
Chewing muscle disorders can be associated with other symptoms commonly seen in TMD, such as jaw pain, headaches, clicking or popping sounds in the jaw joint, and limited jaw movement.
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