Effect of ibuprofen on isometric contractions and associated pain of the human masseter muscle.

A randomized, single-blind crossover trial tested the effect of 1,000 mg of ibuprofen on jaw muscle pain induced by maximum voluntary teeth clenching (MVC). Subjects exercised MVC until there was onset of pain in the masseter muscles (pain latency in seconds), and until pain and exhaustion of the masseter and anterior temporalis muscles could no longer be endured (pain tolerance in seconds). Pain intensity was quantified by visual analogue scores, and pain sensitivity by the pain sensitivity range and the pain sensitivity ratio. During MVC the mean voltage of the left masseter muscle was recorded by cumulative surface electromyography. Ibuprofen had no significant effect on the pain latency and the pain tolerance. Neither did ibuprofen significantly decrease the pain intensity nor significantly affect the pain sensitivity range and the pain sensitivity ratio. After intake of ibuprofen, the number of electromyograms with a decrease in mean voltage was significantly increased--credibly, an expression of increased central fatigue with voluntary decruitment of motor units, and possibly the result of increased contraction times because of an undisclosed effect of ibuprofen. There was no circumstantial evidence of impaired motor activity that could be attributed to biosynthesis of prostaglandins.