THE AIM OF THE STUDY

Was to investigate the effectiveness of combined treatment with elastic bands and splints in patients with masticatory muscle hypertension. 103 patients (37 men and 66 women) aged from 21 to 65 years were examined. The diagnosis was made based on clinical and instrumental (electromyography) methods. Pain intensity was determined using a visual-analog scale (VAS). Elimination of masticatory muscle hypertension in patients of the first group (51 people) was carried out using only splints while patients of the second group (52 people) had a combined therapy with elastic bands and splints. In the second group of patients reliable reducing of pain intensity was observed by day 14 from the start of therapy (4.54±0.5 points), while in the first group of patients it was discovered only by day 21 (5.08±0.6 points). Reliable changing of the bioelectrical activity of masticatory muscles in the second group of patients was observed by the beginning of second week from the start of preliminary therapy, while in the first group of patients it was discovered only by the third week. Thus, the proposed method of masticatory muscles hypertension treatment using elastic bands and splints has features, favorably distinguish it from the other methods of the therapy, because it provides sparing functioning condition for masticatory muscles.