Statistical analysis of an urban population of 236 patients with head and neck pain. Part I. Patient profile.

A large group of patients (236) was examined for myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome. The parameters used for diagnosis of the syndrome were pain and tenderness in the head and neck muscles and temporomandibular joint, joint sounds, and limited function. It was found that the demographic profile of our patient population did not vary greatly from those reported previously in other studies. However, we did examine more details of the patients' backgrounds than any other single study. The relationships of age, sex, occupation, marital status, emotional stress, and head trauma were discussed.