Electromyographic Evaluation of the Efficacy of Manual Therapy in Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction.

A Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) is one of the pain rating scales used for the first time in 1921 by Hayes and Patterson. It is often used in epidemiologic and clinical research to measure the intensity or frequency of various symptoms.

Electromyography (EMG) is the most objective and reliable method available for imaging muscle function and efficiency, which is done by identifying their electrical potentials. In global surface electromyography (sEMG), surface electrodes are located on the surface of the skin, and it detects superimposed motor unit action potentials from many muscle fibers

Pain pressure threshold (PPT) is used to measure deep muscular tissue sensitivity. The test determines the amount of pressure over a given area in which a steadily increasing nonpainful pressure stimulus turns into a painful pressure sensation. A varying pressure is applied from 0.5 to 1 kg/sec in a perpendicular direction relative to the muscle.

Maximal opening of mouth is described as the greatest distance between incisal edge of maxillary central incisor to the incisal edge of mandibular central incisor, when the mouth is opened as wide as possible painlessly or as the inter incisal distance plus the overbite. Clinical measurement of normal range of Maximum Mouth Opening (MMO) is an important diagnostic criterion for evaluation of stomatognathic system, especially for those with temporomandibular dysfunctions.

The original Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobiais (TSK) was first developed in 1991 by R. Miller, S. Kopri, and D. Todd. TSK is 12 items a self-reporting questionnaire based on evaluation of fear of movement, fear of physical activity, and fear avoidance.

The questionnaire using 4 points to assess that are based on; the model of fear-avoidance, fear of work-related activities, fear of movement, and fear of re-injury.

It is a scale used to evaluate the functionality of the individual's jaw joint in the last month. It consists of 8 items, where the number '0' indicates 'no restriction' and the number '10' indicates 'serious restriction'. By taking the average of the answers given, the functionality restriction is calculated.

The Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) includes two subscales, seven of which measure anxiety (odd numbers) and seven (even numbers) depression, which are used to determine the depression and anxiety levels of individuals, and a total of 14 questions. Each question is scored between 0-3 points. While the minimum score that can be obtained from the depression and anxiety subscales is 0, the maximum score is 21. According to the scores obtained from the subscales, the depression and anxiety status of the individuals are evaluated as normal/no symptoms (0-7 points), borderline abnormal/suspicious (8-10 points), and abnormal/definite (11-21 points).