Dahan, Haissam, Shir, Yoram, Nicolau, Belinda et al. · Journal of oral & facial pain and headache · 2016 · DOI
This study looked at 180 people with jaw joint problems (temporomandibular disorders) to see if certain conditions were more common in those with muscle pain versus other types of jaw problems. Researchers found that people with myofascial (muscle-related) jaw pain were significantly more likely to have migraines and ME/CFS compared to those without muscle involvement. This suggests that muscle-based jaw disorders and ME/CFS may be connected.
This study provides epidemiological evidence of significant overlap between myofascial TMD and ME/CFS, suggesting a potential shared mechanistic pathway or common predisposing factors. For ME/CFS patients, particularly those with concurrent jaw pain, this work validates the reality of multi-system involvement and may guide clinicians to screen for related conditions. Understanding comorbidity patterns can inform integrated treatment approaches and future mechanistic studies.
This study does not establish causation—it cannot determine whether myofascial TMD causes ME/CFS, whether ME/CFS predisposes to TMD, or whether both share a common underlying cause. The findings are based on self-reported diagnoses without objective laboratory or clinical confirmation of ME/CFS status. Cross-sectional design prevents identification of temporal relationships between conditions.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
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