A descriptive survey of signs and symptoms associated with the myofascial pain-dysfunction syndrome.

The signs and symptoms of 56 patients with myofascial pain-dysfunction syndrome were tabulated. Patients were classified by age, sex, education and professional background, frequency of complaints of pain, occlusal relationships, oral habits, and specific muscles that were tender on palpation. A coincidence of stress and tension and the onset of myofascial pain was observed. It is suggested that myofascial pain may be more common in women than in men. Muscle tenderness was associated particularly with the masseter, temporal, and lateral and medial pterygoid muscles.